Apsaalooke Language and Culture Camp

The Apsaalooke (Crow) People had one of the highest percentage of fluent speakers in the Country around the 1960's to present day. But that high percentage has been declining rapidly within the last decades. There are numerous reasons for its decline such as Substance Abuse, Systemic Racism, Technological advancement but the biggest contributing factor to its decline through the years has been the Public School System. The Crow People did not have a Language Immersion program until recently, efforts have been made to accommodate this Language Loss. 

The Chickadee Lodge which teaches the Crow Language but is only geared toward the Pre-School-3rd Grade.  

Current Crow children attending  Middle School, High School and College are losing their Language and Cultural Identity at a much faster pace then ever before. 

Culture and Language Camp for Middle School, High School and College Students. To preserve and Perpetuate the Apsaalooke Way Of Life.  

The Apsaalooke (Crow) People had one of the highest percentage of fluent speakers in the Country around the 1960's to present day. But that high percentage has been declining rapidly within the last decades. There are numerous reasons for its decline such as Substance Abuse, Systemic Racism, Technological advancement but the biggest contributing factor to its decline through the years has been the Public School System. The Crow People did not have a Language Immersion program until recently, efforts have been made to accommodate this Language Loss. 

The Crow Language is a Missouri Siouan Language spoken primarily by the Crow People. The Crow are one of the largest populations of American Indian Language speakers in the United States. in 2007 there were 3,500 Crow language Speakers out 8,500 Total members. Today this number has been drastically declining. Most of the Crow Speakers are in the older population 3o yrs old and older. 0-30 Years of age is in danger of losing the Crow Language. 

Since there is still a large number of Crow Speakers the Language can be revitalized by instilling a sense of Pride and educating the younger generation by learning the Apsaalooke Way of Life and the Language.        

Apsaalooke Language and Culture Camp to instill with in our youth the pride and responsibility to preserve and perpetuate our Apsaalooke Way of Life. 

The camp will be split up in to 3 different groups. Middle School, High School and College. from this they will be split into their respective Clans.

The Crow Tribe has a unique Clan System which is still utilized in our every day life. This system is a matrilineal system in which we are born in to our mothers clan. The camp will be split up by clans to teach about the important roles of each clan to the participants.   

Each camp participant will be taught the Crow History, Norms, Mores, Belief System and Familial Kinship of the Apsaalooke. They will also learn about the various plants and herbs and will learn to harvest and utilize for consumption and the various medicinal uses. 

Each camp participant will learn about Cultural and Historical significant places. They Learn about the history and the cultural importance of said sites.

Each camp participant will also learn and participate in Crow Social Activities and compete in the Competition Activities of the Crow. They will also learn about their history and importance.

With the loss of a Language a Culture also becomes loss. 

The revitalizing of our Language is paramount but our Apsaalooke way of life is just as important to preserve as our beloved language.

The Crow Youth of today are preoccupied with Social Media, School, Sports  

The Chickadee Lodge which teaches the Crow Language but is only geared toward the Pre-School-3rd Grade.