Native Language Challenge
In recent days there have been quite a few social media challenges. A few months back there was a Native Water Challenge, which encouraged Native California to return to their water sources. Bay Natives jumped in the Bays, Ocean folks into the sea, and river people went into their rivers. The challenge was intensified for many because it was during wintertime, and as we all saw people jump into icy waters we were impressed by their bravery! I myself was challenged, but never found the time (or right weather conditions) to enter my ancestral San Francisco Bay, even though I live two minutes away from that beautiful, albeit stinky, body of water. For so long I felt guilty for not fulfilling my end of the challenge, which I had been nominated for from a few of my pals. I still feel guilty even today.
Now a new challenge has begun, and I made sure to (figuratively) jump into this one! I started to see quite a few of my friends take to Facebook and Twitter to take part in the Native Language Challenge, where people are challenging one another to use Native languages in short videos. What a joy! As I write this blog post, it seems more and more voices from the California Indian world are creating videos in their languages, sharing the beauty of this world we love so deeply with humor and grace. I think it goes without saying that our community knows how to handle a challenge.
These video clips, from top to bottom, feature James Genshaw, Jr. (Yurok), Misty Hoaglen (Yuki/Wailaki), Vince [me] and Gabe Medina (Ohlone), Ric and Cody Pata (Nomlaki), Maura Sullivan (Chumash)
