By Justin Neely, CPN Language Director

We are rounding out the last semester of our online self-paced high school course. We are currently offering the course to the following high schools: Tecumseh, Maud, Wanette and Shawnee. The State of Oklahoma has certified the course to count toward the world language credit required for graduation. We hope to be able to expand. If you have a student in a different district in Oklahoma, please get them in contact with us. Since it’s online and self-paced, there is really no reason we cannot offer the course in your district, but we need to get the process started early to make it available next year. We are happy to expand into other school districts as interest dictates. We have had one other person take the course in Michigan and also one student take our collegiate version at Arizona University.

We would love to be able to offer it in other states, but the only issue is each state has its own education department that decides whether the course can be offered for credit. We are certainly willing to discuss partnering with other states, but there is no guarantee that they will be willing to accept the course. It’s really a state-by-state basis.

Our staff is working on a grant we received to make a series of original children’s books. This project is very fun, and my staff is doing a great job with it. Language staff members also go to the Nation’s Child Development Center Monday through Thursday. For updates and additional language questions, check out Potawatomi Language group on Facebook at cpn.news/langfb.

In-person classes

I have been asked a couple of times about onsite classes. We will take into consideration the suggestions of our medical staff, and as things change, we will definitely let folks know. We may be able to hold some classes in the Cultural Heritage Center with folks doing a temperature check on the way in, wearing masks, and also practicing social distancing by limiting number of folks at tables. If would like use to keep you in the loop on this, please send me an email at jneely@potawatomi.org.

Dictionary

Also, we are continually updating and adding to our online dictionary. One project we have been working on is doing a conjugation video with different types of verbs. For example, for intransitive animate — VAI normal verbs — we are adding a video that shows how to conjugate these basic verbs. We are going to eventually add one for each type: inanimate intransitive — VII; transitive inanimate —VTI; and transitive animate — VTA. These videos will show how to conjugate in the independent, conjunct, command form, prohibitive form, past, future and negative. The dictionary is at potawatomidictionary.com.

Online resources

We also have a number of online platforms for learning the language. We have two YouTube channels at cpn.news/JN and cpn.news/langyt. One is geared toward children and the other to adult learners. We also have two courses on Memrise at cpn.news/memrise.

We also have our starter courses: Beginner I, Beginner II and Intermediate Moodle courses at language.potawatomi.org.

Mnokme kedwnen (Spring words)

  • Mnokme — spring (mih nok may)
  • Mnokmek — in the spring (mih nok muck)
  • Gtegan — garden (Getuh gone)
  • Nwi-gtege — I am going to plant/garden. (nuh wee getuh gay)
  • Minkan — seed (meen con)
  • Zagbek — sprouting leaf (zahg buck)
  • Waskonédoyen — flowers (was cone nuh do yin)
  • Waskonédo — flower (was cone nuh do)
  • Shkegi — new growth/new sprout (shkuh gee)
  • Jigbekwegas — spade/small shovel (jeegbuck kway gahs)
  • Mon’agen — hoe (moan ah gihn)
  • Monshkwé — weed he/she does (moan shkway)
  • Zagwewen — sprout (zahg way win)
  • Zagki — It’s emerging from the ground. (zahg kee)