Shawnee youth place in 2022 virtual Oklahoma native American youth language fair

MIAMI, OK – The Sam Noble Museum announced the Shawnee youth winners of the 2022 Virtual Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair (ONAYLF). The Shawnee Tribe’s Language Immersion Program had three winning entries to the ONAYLF this spring, including two taking first place in the Spoken Language category and a third-place winner in the Film and Video category.

“We cannot express how proud we are of our students who participated in the Sam Noble Language Fair,” said Joel Barnes, Director of the Shawnee Tribe Language Immersion Program. “Their success only encourages us to do more and continue to build on the success of our participants.”

The ONAYLF videos were published on the group’s Youtube page.

Pre-K-2nd  Grade Division –

                First Place, Cecily Blanchard (Absentee Shawnee Tribe) & Kaya Stand (Shawnee Tribe)

                “Far Away Friends

Cecily is in kindergarten, and she is the daughter of Eric and Jessica Blanchard of Norman, OK and great-niece of George Blanchard. Kaya is a first grader and the daughter of Trenton and Kaci Stand of Quapaw, OK. 

6th-8th Grade Division –

                First Place, Mya Blanchard (Absentee Shawnee Tribe) & Gage Stand (Shawnee Tribe)

                “Two Shawnee Kids

Although only in fourth grade, Mya competed alongside Gage Stand (sixth grade) in the 6th – 8th Grade Division. Mya is also the daughter of Eric and Jessica Blanchard and the great-niece of George Blanchard. Gage is son to Trenton and Kaci Stand and Jacque Cabrera of Quapaw, OK

9th-12th Grade Division –

                Third Place, Eloisa Roach (Shawnee Tribe)

                “The Turkey and the Fox Tale

Eloisa is a 10th grader from Iowa City, IA and the daughter of Steve and Silvia Roach. Steve Roach is a Community Language Program instructor with the Shawnee Tribe Language Immersion Program.

“The team at the Shawnee Language Immersion Department in piloting this brand-new program has been doing amazing work,” said Chief Ben Barnes. “Work that has been reflected within these children.”

WATCH the 2022 Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair.

EXPLORE the ONAYLF Information & results.

About the Shawnee Tribe

The Shawnee Tribe is a sovereign nation of more than 3,700 citizens living across North America and abroad. Tribal headquarters are located in Miami, Oklahoma, and Shawnee Chief Benjamin J. Barnes was elected in 2019. In January 2020, Chief Barnes issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the Shawnee language. The Shawnee Tribe Business Council adopted resolution R-01-06-20-K, which officially declared the years 2021-2030 as the Decade of the Shawnee Language and pledged tribal resources flow toward a comprehensive plan to create fluent speakers from the youngest Shawnees and deploy language curriculum to all Shawnee people. For more information, visit shawnee-nsn.gov.

Back

More News

Jul 18, 2024

MEET THE CANDIDATES 2024

In the spirit of transparency and offering comprehensive election information to tribal citizens, the Shawnee Tribe Communications Department initiated the annual Meet the Candidates series in 2021. Candidates for Secretary: Jana Edwards-Johnson and Carolyn Foster (Incumbent). Candidates for Business Council Seat 3: Morris Bluejacket, Drew Dixon, Gregory Jones, and Elena Staubus. Unopposed Candidates: Roy Baldridge, incumbent candidate […]

Read More
Jul 15, 2024

Charter Buses & Hotel Rooms Available for Five Moons Dance Festival Attendees

The Shawnee Tribe has partnered with the School of Dance at the University of Oklahoma to present the 2024 Five Moons Dance Festival, August 24-25. Free, roundtrip charter bus transportation to the festival is available from Miami, OK, and Tulsa, OK, on a first-come, first-served basis. Special-rate hotel rooms in Norman are also available. Those who commit to an […]

Read More
Jul 9, 2024

GOLDEN MESA CASINO EXPANSION UPDATE

Construction work on the Golden Mesa Casino expansion is progressing and currently on track for completion in the summer of 2025. “Weather is always a challenge in the panhandle, but our construction team continues to push forward to meet the projected completion date,” said Shawnee Development President Chris Floyd. “The site has recovered quickly from […]

Read More
Jun 18, 2024

Summer Solstice Will Be Celebrated at Serpent Mound June 20-23

PEEBLES, Ohio – The Shawnee Tribe and the Ohio History Connection are preparing to celebrate Summer Solstice at Serpent Mound from June 20-23. Serpent Mound, 3850 state Route 73 in Peebles, is a National Historic Landmark built by early American Indian Nations of Ohio. The effigy mound in the form of a snake with a […]

Read More
Jun 13, 2024

Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes Shawnee Statement on Committee Vote on Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: media@shawnee-tribe.com In response to today’s vote by the House Education and Workforce Committee on the “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024” (H.R. 7227), Chief Ben Barnes of the federally recognized Shawnee Tribe made the following statement: “We are deeply grateful to the Committee for passing […]

Read More
May 6, 2024

Introducing ta'saawanwaatoweeyakwe ("Where We Speak Shawnee")

Welcome to ta’saawanwaatoweeyakwe! This new blog series is dedicated to the Shawnee Language Immersion Program’s happenings and language preservation work. To kick things off, we’re highlighting SLIP’s new Master-Apprentice Program.  Log in to SLIPstream to read this post in saawanwaatoweewe [the Shawnee language]. Need to register for SLIPStream? Email a copy of your tribal ID to shawneelanguage@shawnee-tribe.com. In […]

Read More
May 6, 2024

SHAWNEE NATIONS PARTNER WITH STATE OF OHIO TO DEVELOP GREAT COUNCIL STATE PARK

Ohio’s 76th state park is just weeks away from welcoming visitors. Great Council State Park, just north of Xenia, was once known as Oldtown, one of the largest-known Shawnee settlements in the region. More than 400 families and more than 1,000 people called Oldtown home from approximately 1777 to 1780. Their stories directly intersect with […]

Read More
May 3, 2024

KIWIITAMAAKONAAKI HOKIMAAKI - MELO'KAMI 2024

Messages from the Chiefs – Spring 2024 / / Chief Barnes discusses tribal tags in Oklahoma and defeating OK SB 1907, while Chief Baldridge highlights Shawnee leader’s roles and efforts, past and present.

Read More
See All News