Bilingual Program believes in preserving the Niok of the O'Odham Pipaash

This program strongly believes in preserving the Niok of the O’Odham, Pipaash of the Salt River and Lehi Communities. This is one of the reasons why I decided to apply for a job here for the Bilingual Program in the Education Department. Let me introduce myself for those who do not know me. Ani an ap ce:gig Colleen (Lewis) Moore. En je’e the late Sylvia Anne (Hayes) Lewis, En Og Melvin Lamar Lewis Sr. (Jack Lewis). I have viak mamad and cupd mo:ms. I am originally from the Akimel O’Odham Community, but I have lived here for 25 years and consider this my home.

The O’Odham Niok was used a lot during my childhood and I understand some of the O’Odham Niok, but do not speak the Niok. My Hu’ul Helen Hayes and En Ba:b, Ed Hayes, were the people that thought me the O’Odham Niok and Himdag. I also learned a lot from the Elders here in the community during the seven years I worked for the Senior Center. With all their wisdom and knowledge, I learned that everyday should not be taken for granted.

The position I hold is Secretary for the Bilingual Program and I oversee the survey for the O’Odham pipaash Language Surveyors for the O’Odham, Pipaash Language Surveyors for the O’Odham, Pipaash Language Survey. Some of the information gathered from the Language survey will help the Program find out just how many non speakers and fluent speakers of the O’Odham Pipaash Language we currently have in our Community. It also is allowing us to hopefully find fluent Community speakers to help assist in teaching the O’Odham and Pipaash Language. We currently have four surveyors that are assisting in gathering and entering of data from the survey into the system for the ANA GRANT reports. These four surveyors are Lester Manuel, Toni Carlyle, Leota Azule Gabriel J Matinez. These surveyors will be going back to homes that were missed during the time of the first survey. If you or anyone you know that has not yet be contacted about the survey, please feel free to contact the Bilingual Program at 850-8302.

We have received a poor response from the surveys we mailed to the on-residential Community members. Surveys that were sent out to the Community Schools, continue to come in on the usage and understanding of the O’Odham and Pipaash Language of each student.

After looking over the surveys that came through the office and talking to some of the surveyors, we discovered that the majority of the Niok here in the Community is Milga:n Even with some of the fluent O’Odham speakers the O’Odham Niok is decreasing due to lack of opportunity to speak to others. With the Pipaash there is even a lower rate of fluent speakers due to the same problem as the O’Odham. Communication plays a big role in both Niok.

I am also taking the O’Odham Niok class taught by Gary Frederick. I recently did a presentation on skovk ce:mait (think tortilla) and si:iov ha:1 (sweet squash). It was a real test for me to do the presentation and try to use much of the O’Odham Niok for each food item. The next Niok class Mrs. Sherlyn Belone demonstrated wuamajda (popover). Both classes seemed to enjoy the O’Odham food that was prepared by each presenter.

Each class member made their own wamajda and put on their own dressing. The dressing consisted of powdered sugar, honey, or ingredients for Indian tacos. It is a real good feeling to learn the stories, writing and pronunciation of the O’Odham Niok. This is what I have learned from the O’Odham Niok class.

Working here for the language Program is just not office work, but includes all aspects of the Language and Culture. I know I was O’Odham but the real meaning of being O’Odham is something I am learning now working here for the Language Program. Working together as a team really makes a difference in your work performance and that is how I see our Language Program. Each staff member is Willing to help in whatever areas they can. We see a lot of jealousy, hatred and greed in our families and Communities, which is not a part of the O’Odham Himdag. We need to have high expectations for one another, for these reasons; RESPECT, LOVE, CLOSENESS, SUPPORT AND TRUST. One of our goals we would like to happen is for the youth to learn and utilize these values daily. “They are the future leaders of our Community.”

I encourage anyone that might have questions or comments, be it negative or positive, to come into the office or call our program. We are open to all opinions.

“I think josh for En Je’e and En Og for bringing me into this world. I especially thank Josh for En Hu’ul and En Ba:d for planting this O’Odham seed inside me. So that this seed will grow and bloom to be shared by all”.



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