theissue domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home3/nncmagaz/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114theissue domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home3/nncmagaz/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114Reflecting on L. Frank Manriquez and Catalina Gomes\u2019 discussion on Cultural and Language Revitalization at<\/strong> the California Institute of Integral Studies.<\/strong><\/p> By Tavi Lorelle Carpenter<\/p> What is the importance of knowing a language? It\u2019s something I\u2019ve considered quite a bit within the past year, wondering what it would mean to know my own. Of course, if I did, I would know three other languages aside from english, which would be very cool. But of course learning a language is actually quite the endeavor and honestly even english, the only language I know, can be a struggle. Heck, this whole week, writing something for this blog has been painful. The words don\u2019t want to come!<\/p> But during the law conference I attended on Monday (article coming soon!), I had the opportunity to hear one of my ancestral languages. It\u2019s special to be able to hear one\u2019s language, like when my Grandma will say the few words she knows in Wappo. I always want to slow the moment down to allow the words to wash over me and sink through my skin into my blood. My Grandma says knowing your language is a strength and she is right.<\/p> But the practicality of language learning can be very difficult.<\/p> If you\u2019ve ever had to talk with a linguist (and lots of love to all the ones I know!), you know what I mean. I swear in any linguistics(ish) class I\u2019ve had to take, it\u2019s like I\u2019m back in high school physics. Like I know they\u2019re saying something and I\u2019m sure it makes sense to someone, but heck if I know what\u2019s going on.<\/p> I always thought I liked language but the truth is, I just like playing with it.<\/p> And I don\u2019t really think I\u2019m alone. <\/p> Not in the playing with language, but in the linguistics and language learning being difficult. And if that\u2019s not true for you, congratulations, I\u2019m genuinely wildly jealous. But I know I\u2019m not the only one who finds language learning challenging.<\/p> For a long time I felt that learning any of my ancestral languages would never be a possibility for me. <\/p> I think that\u2019s why I so thoroughly enjoyed listening to a conversation between L. Frank Manriquez and Catalina Gomes on Language and Cultural Revitalization, this past Wednesday in San Francisco at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). They reminded me that difficult does not mean impossible. Or to be a little harsher, challenging is not an excuse to not try.<\/p> I\u2019ve been having a rather impressively low iron thing going on. Like basically the world is molasses right now and I\u2019m a drowsy tortoise with overly sore muscles. All to say, I unfortunately was unable to attend in person, truthfully I really wish I had. But I am very grateful that CIIS was able to livestream the event, at least I was able to listen in.<\/p> Having recently graduated from college, I\u2019m used to the lecture vibe. Lots of good info but unless I\u2019m internally repeating the words spoken, my mind will be wandering out of the room. But this was not the case for this event! I was laughing and crying and hanging on the edge of my seat, it was exciting and inspiring. <\/p> The video can be seen on YouTube, I\u2019m only going to reflect on two stories. I highly recommend taking the time to watch it. It\u2019s about an hour and a half. <\/p> The guest panelists L. Frank Manriquez (Tongva, Ajachemem & Rar\u00e1muri) and Catalina Gomes (Ramaytush, Salinan and Bay Miwok), are both inspiring people you immediately want to know. L. Frank is a writer, tribal scholar, cartoonist and Indigenous language activist. Most recently, I had actually seen her work at the Oxy Arts Exhibit, \u201cThe Iridescence of Knowing\u201d.<\/a> She is also the co-founder of Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival<\/a>. Catalina Gomes, an elder dedicated to rematriation, had long found \u201crefuge in the redwood forests living off the grid, establishing a closer relationship to the earth and the ocean\u201d according to her bio. She is also the founder of the Muchia Te\u2019 Indigenous Land Trust, named for her family matriarch, whose Native name was recorded in the Mission Dolores records, something quite rare, and certainly special for her family to be able to know.<\/p> The relationship between L. Frank and Catalina came across as being one of great respect and humorous interplay. What was also extremely special was that, both their ancestors being maritime, are also involved in canoe cultural revitalization.<\/p> L. Frank shared a story of taking out a canoe, the second of its kind in 300 years. She had invited everyone, including some folks who don\u2019t like each other very much. But they worked together to bring the boat into the water. <\/p> It was an endeavor.<\/p> Their first challenge was the water itself as it was continually \u201cswamping the boat\u201d.<\/p> Then there was a lifeguard who approached them and shouted at them insisting that they were all going to die. L. Frank pointed out: \u201cHere the whole community is listening to him scream, and they\u2019re here doing this glorious reclamation of, of us<\/em>, you know?\u201d<\/p> It was a \u201c15 minute effort\u201d where everyone was working together in the \u201corganized chaos\u201d of the moment. But then it happened- the boat was in and ready to go! And everyone, including random spectators on the beach started cheering them on.<\/p> \u201cThe minute that they were able to shove it past the last wave the whole beach erupted in \u2018paddle!\u2019 as if they weren\u2019t going to right? But \u2018paddle!\u2019 was the cry! And they paddled . . .and then they were gone, there was that three knots! And what it did, was it made people who are fighting each other, their whole lives and generations of it hug each other and claim victory. Victory over genocide.\u201d <\/p> Catalina Gomes shared another story about the H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba<\/a>, a canoe made in the traditional way of the first people of Hawai’i that has allowed for, in Catalina\u2019s words, \u201ca renaissance\u201d of language and cultural revitalization in Hawai’i. H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba had come to visit this past Sunday to Half Moon Bay and as they made their journey, something phenomenal occurred:<\/p>