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Chikashshanompa’ ilanompola’chi [We will speak Chickasaw]: The significance of Chickasaw language decline and revitalization
December 30, 2013, marked a monumental loss for the Chickasaw Nation as it mourned the passing of its last monolingual speaker. Born in the 1920s, this valued elder surely witnessed unprecedented and relentless change within her community as mainstream American values were increasingly imposed on and even embraced by other…
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Pomanompa’ kilanompolika̲ chokma (It is good that we speak our language): Motivations to revitalize Chikashshanompa’ (Chickasaw language) across generations
Currently, the Chickasaw Nation is working toward the revitalization of its language—Chikashshanompa’—which is classified as a severely endangered Indigenous language. Successful language revitalization requires the dedication of all generations within a community. As such, it is important to understand what motivates different generations of Chickasaw citizens who are currently teaching…