Welcome to ta’saawanwaatoweeyakwe, the new blog series dedicated to the Shawnee Language Immersion Program’s happenings and language preservation work. From June 18-21, Shawnee Language Immersion Program apprentices, mentors, Community Language Preservationists (CLPs), and other guests gathered for their annual conference at the Emma “Mock” Donaldson Shawnee Language House. Many of the attendees live far away from Miami, OK, and this was a rare opportunity to visit and speak Shawnee with each other in person “we think about when we gathered at the Shawnee Language House”.

Read the English translations of their stories below! 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.

Sonni James (SLIP Apprentice)

Margaret Sewell makes music and sings. She writes songs to help children learn Shawnee language. Music helps everyone learn, so she brought her music to the conference. When we sing, we use parts of our brain that help us learn. Singing also makes us feel happy and connected. We are grateful to have Margaret and her Shawnee songs!

Ryan Conway (SLIP Apprentice)

I travelled far and I saw my Shawnee friends and Shawnee family so that we learn and speak Shawnee all together with everyone there. Anytime whenever we speak Shawnee, we tend the fire of the Shawnee people together. We listened to Shawnee stories. We tended the fire. We sang Shawnee songs. We tended the fire. We read Shawnee stories. We tended the fire. We looked for Shawnee plants. We tended the fire. My Shawnee momma Lynette told us Shawnee Indian corn stories. We tended the fire. I am a farmer, that’s why I loved when we sought plants and that corn story. Anytime whenever you do Shawnee things, we tend the Shawnee fire together.

Bailey Quishenberry (SLIP Apprentice)

We learn how to speak good Shawnee when we speak Shawnee together. During the language conference we all visited and talked. Once we went home we remembered our Shawnee language because we talked with each other. We spoke Shawnee during workshops, meals, and when we drove. We spoke in the classroom, our rooms, the restaurant, and then at the pool. Friends told us many stories and then we sang Shawnee songs. Now we have more friends to speak with. We will practice talking more with our students.

Steve Roach (SLIP Apprentice)

I am always glad to be able to visit with my family members. Everyone that is guarding our language is my family, that’s why I was glad that we were able to gather even if I had to drive all day to arrive there. I was happy to see my old friends but really liked to meet others for the first time. I was glad that we spoke Shawnee and hope we will speak even more when we meet again. One more thing I want to say. It sure felt good when we danced. I was very proud of my brother how he led a dance. That’s all.