I wonder how she and her people feel about the widespread use of Spanish in this valley. The local native population has all but been forgotten.

lobo, unlike some people she will embrace it and look at it in a positive way. the mix of different languages and cultures is what this country is made of. America is the melting pot/salad bowl. people come here to be free and to be able to have the right to choose. America opens her arms and welcomes everyone no matter the race or culture in which you come from. yes, we have some issues regarding crime rates but many other countries do to. look at the American kid that vandalized those cars in another country..he got a caning, look at the American girl who is on trial from a murder in Turkey i believe. it's life..it's not going to go away..so learn to live with it and move on.

Good for this lady. I only wish that more of their tribal members cared about it as well. Carrying on the language of one's culture should be important within the family and at home.

To expand the language debate: Generally, having a second language is a good thing - especially one that you can use to show at least a little consideration to others when you might be a GUEST in THEIR country, even if it is only a few polite or useful words like, "Greetings", or "Where is the bathroom?" or Where is a hotel?", or "Thank you very much". However, if you plan to LIVE there, you need to learn THEIR language, and plan also to assimilate to THEIR customs and laws.

That said, ChrisR, you are spewing the rhetoric & lies about immigrants to our country in the early days, that have been shoved down peoples throats by liberal elitists so long they are starting to believe those lies. IN doing so, you are attempting to revise history to meet your own ideas of where we came from as a Nation.

This country HAS open arms to immigration - LEGAL immigration. The melting pot is also taken out of context by you. Immigrants that came here - LEGALLY - in the old days, took pride in ASSIMILATING, (an accurate simile to "melting pot") into our culture and country, at least publicly.

One of the first things most immigrants did WAS TO LEARN ENGLISH. They didn't DEMAND that we print all our ballots in Spanish, or Chinese, or Swahili so that they could vote, (a right preserved until recently only for citizens). They didn't DEMAND that we hire interpreters and print all legal papers in another language. If they couldn't speak English, someone would come along and interpret for them, GRATIS.

You are partly right about the prosecution of crime in other countries - we should treat our criminals a little more like they are treated in other countries and start caning, sawing off hands and heads, and actually PROSECUTING crimes without the hindrance from the ACLU, who specializes in setting criminals free. If we did, maybe there would be less incentive to try a life of crime here.

Nick,
Getting way off the topic but I agree whole heartedly with you. The way we are pandering and rolling over and playing dead for these guys, it won't be long til we have stonings, the requirement for beards, praying on demand and other population control measures including honor killings. The alcohol business will suffer and so will the @#$% industry but these folk will readily climb on the band wagon and support the elite, bowing when necessary. I'm sure they can't wait til they can say do this or that and when we protest they simply wave their hand and we lose ours. Yep, exciting time ahead for us all.

"One of the first things most immigrants did was to learn english..." Where are your statistics to support that statement? For someone who seems to know so much about the immigrant experience, you never actually post anything that supports your comments. Every article is about illegal immigration for you. How about supporting your constant rants with some evidence?

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Nick, if your goal is to enlighten people on a point they overlook, then your action must be fitting to that goal. You seem like you want to be understood, so much so that you are frustrated. Your action therefore seems to promote your need to vent only under the pretense of the said goal. If you want to assure those listening of your intentions and of what you are saying it is important to speak objectively.

I feel it important to keep our native culture alive. I applaud Virginia Beavert for keeping alive the Yakama tongue(s). We do not want to forget our heritage and our history, lest we loose precious lessons we learned from the mistakes we made previously, which would be a shame. I hope that more young Yakamas learn their native tongue...

I believe it is also important to know more than one language. Since there is no turning back in the globalization of our country, we must be able to communicate effectively. Besides learning foreign language(s) stimulates cognitive development, affords an appreciation of another culture, and helps to keep alive ones heritage. I know that there are many reasons to speak multiple languages; however, these are just a few of my ideas.

"One of the first things most immigrants did was to learn english..." With regard to this statement: my great grandparents came here from Sweden moving to Ballard, which is hot spot for Scandinavian families and culture. In speaking with family, I learned that the native language was spoken most often; although, second generation spoke primarily English and by the third and fourth generations English became the only language known. In studying this phenomenon, I found that this was typical. I suppose we must give it some time. Although, I must admit that there was not the coddling and PC attitude that the government and society has taken on in recent years at that time, which is causing strife and tax dollars to be spent in ways never before seen. My two cents.

Thank you, Virginia Beavert. I pray you reach all the goals you have set to preserve these languages. When my grandparents immigrated to America the first thing they did was learn the English language. They also had family that were their sponsors. This allowed them to assimilate into the "melting pot". Hope that your classes are filled to the brim the Yakama, Nez Perce, Umatilla and Klickitat languages are really beautiful to listen to.

Virginia! Congrads to you! From one descended of many who loved you, like Granddad Ray, along with the rest of us. You go Warrior Woman!
Many blessings to you time eternal.

What a wonderful story, YH. I would like to get a copy of the dictionary when it's done.

The native population has been through so much. My aunt by marriage was Yakama. When a child, she was taken (stolen, kidnapped) by the government and shipped to Oklahoma where she had her language and religion beat out of her--but they never broke her spirit.

Thirty years late, when the Yakama's went to DC to petition to have Mt. Adams returned to them as dictated in the treaty, she stood before a joint session of congress and recited the Lord's Prayer in the Yakama language.

Yea, that was really cool...

WHAT, Phil did a story on something Positive for the Yakama Nation, **CLAPS HANDS** DOES BACK FLIP**... Well I think its nice that she is teaching those who were not taught the language of whom they descend from. GOOD for her. Now to find ppl who want to learn and carry on her legacy. Its sad that the Language's NATIVE to this country have been lost or dying out. BUT to sit and cry and point fingers will not get anyone anywhere.. I think its nice that the Mexicans speak their language That the Chinese can speak and write their own Language. WAHH wahh about border patrol.. Thats not going to fix athing. I GOT ONE THING TO SAY.. RACISM and PREDJUDICE is a DYING BREED.. SO sad that the same ppl have to point everything and every problem to the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Sheesh this is a positive article. YOU STILL HAVE TO BLAME THE POOR IMMIGRANTS!!.......

Really interesting. I doubt this would have been possible if natives fully assimulated when they were robed of this land.

Just read another interesting story ouf of Tijuana. The baja govrn't is setting up mediation and legal centers in the state of Baja. All centers are ENGLISH SPEAKING specificaly put together for Americans living abroad.

As we know assimulation doesn't always happen as some would like it to. Just goes to show it does go both ways and in many others.

Very interesting.

I applaude her work ethics and dedication. Why isn't this wonderful woman the Tribal Chairwoman? Educated, Strong Traditional Values, Kind Hearted, Honest, and a Positive Role Model for all ages.

The current Tribal Council should take note on the importance of Education and True Traditional Value. Now if only the Yakama Nation could find more members of equal value, then would they begin taking the right steps in making the right decisions. All members of Tribal Council should be required to have college degrees. Yakima City wouldn't allow anyone on council with just a GED, would they??

up4par2000 wrote:

"All members of Tribal Council should be required to have college degrees. Yakima City wouldn't allow anyone on council with just a GED, would they??"

You clearly have no knowledge of the People. Yes, education is a good thing. I think everyone should go to college or trade school, but there is so much that the People know that CANNOT be taught in school.

My aunt was Yakama. She was taken from her home by the government at an early age and boarded in Oklahoma. She continued to speak her language all her life and DID attend college after she retired from her job. And just what was her job? She was the first Native American woman in the United States to be a deputy sheriff.

Should she have been excluded from the Tribal council? Education doesn't always equate maturity and intelligence. The woman I admire most (besides my own mother) is my aunt, a member of the Yakama nation, the late Kay Northover Merritt.

THE CURRENT YAKAMA TRIBAL CANNOT EVEN READ OR WRITE LEGAL DOCUMENTS. THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL EXPLAIN THE MEANINGS FOR THEM. YES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THERE MUST BE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION OUT THERE. THE TRIBE MUST STOP LIVING IN A BOX AND EDUCATE THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS. BOOSTING SCHOLARSHIPS AND/OR SENDING THEM TO TRADE SCHOOL IS KEY TO A STRONG FUTURE. JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE LONG BRAIDED HAIR AND WEAR PENDLETON JACKETS DOES NOT DEEM THEM QUALIFIED.

Who is going to be the last person speaking English in this town?