Nimipuum titwáatit Mixed Media

The Nez Perce Tribe, like many indigenous peoples, are fighting to preserve language and cultural knowledge.  Of the almost 3,500 enrolled members, less than 1% show advanced proficiency in speaking the Nez Perce language.  Traditional stories offer an opportunity to learn both cultural knowledge and language.  Many tribal members don’t know the traditional stories, and do not know how to gain access to them.

In the 1960’s linguists came to the Nez Perce Reservation and documented traditional stories with multiple first-language speakers.  The Nez Perce Tribe has access to a collection of over 50 traditional stories, some with multiple versions told by different speakers, that are transcribed, translated, and come with recorded audio.

Finding a space to learn cultural knowledge, is increasingly difficult.  With the current education system in place, even a good partnership with a school garners very little time for culturally relevant curriculum.  The demand on time is great, and sometimes scheduled down to the minute.  Providing learning opportunities for adults is just as difficult.

Many tribal members have expressed a desire for greater access to the stories in the Nez Perce Language and in English, but sharing traditional stories in a form that is educational, and engaging has been a struggle.  Several traditional stories depict physical attributes of the land, and the knowledge of these places and their stories are being lost.  Teaching the stories would not only benefit tribal members, but also provide cultural learning opportunities for the almost 18,800 residents of the Nez Perce Reservation and beyond. 

Storytelling is one of the oldest educational tools of the Nez Perce people, and it is an integral part of the endurance of the culture and language.  The solution is to provide access to traditional stories in several types of media that is not only effortless for all ages, but also engaging.  Providing material in many forms is the most conducive to learning, so the Nez Perce Language Program (NPLP) will produce traditional stories in the form of graphic novels and simple animations.

Fortunately, the growth of modern technology is making the production and distribution of media easier.  The NPLP will utilize digital painting software, such as Krita, to produce artwork for printed graphic novels.  Audio for character acting, and story narration will be recorded and enhanced utilizing programs such as Audacity to ensure sound quality.

The animation software Cartoon Animator 4 can easily create animation with the digital graphic novel artwork, and synch audio to clips.

The animations will be published on the Nez Perce Language Program’s website (www.nimipuutimt.org), YouTube, and Facebook page, to ensure public access.

Our solution will serve not only Nez Perce families, but also the non-tribal members of the community.  The Nez Perce Language Program (NPLP) has a partnership with the school district within the reservation with the highest percentage of tribal students. Students from Kindergarten to high school seniors receive regular Nez Perce language lessons via the NPLP.  The NPLP is receiving more requests from schools not just within the reservation, but neighboring communities as well.  Traditional stories and storytelling are an integral part of NPLP curriculum.

Traditional stories contain history about the Nez Perce homelands, as well as language, and cultural values and practices.  These are things not normally provided in classrooms.  Learning stories about the land itself often garners a sense of pride and belonging.

Traditional Nez Perce stories were shared with visitors in the 1960’s, which were then archived as research materials and/or published for the profit of the owners of recordings.  By providing access to traditional stories in the Nez Perce language, possession is returned to the Nez Perce people, their families, and communities.  Not only can traditional stories be educational, but they can have a profound impact on personal beliefs and sense of identity.  Tribal members often reach out in search of stories with themes of personal identity and family.

Our solution will most benefit the Nez Perce community.  The Nez Perce Language Program has a lot of involvement with school youth, thanks to a strong partnership with local schools. Students receive language lessons, but engagement can be difficult as youth don’t often prioritize or value language education.  The stories are always engaging for students of all ages, and they often ask for more.

Simple animations are also in demand from young children.  Providing the stories with visual aids further engages students and helps them follow along with the stories.

Graphic novels will appeal most to the youth, specifically teens, who are learning to read the language as well as speak.

An ongoing issue has been engaging parents in the language education of youth.  Adults are not afforded the same learning opportunities as their kids and are unable to teach the language.  Providing books and videos to engage the entire family offers an achievable task that parents can utilize to take part in learning language and the stories.

The Nez Perce Language Program (NPLP) is a part of the Nez Perce Tribe’s Cultural Resources department.  The mission of the NPLP is to utilize traditional knowledge in conjunction with modern technology to provide educational materials to teach the Nez Perce language.

The NPLP has the resources and experience to provide this solution.  The NPLP has access to traditional stories and the original audio recordings.  Our staff can enhance audio, translate stories, and accurately convey the cultural knowledge present in the stories.

The NPLP has experience and published two illustrated books in the language featuring traditional stories.  One story has been animated, and with two additional stories in production to be animated.

Nez Perce Tribal members place a high priority on the revitalization of the language because it is severely endangered.  Very few people speak the language or have an understanding of how the Nez Perce Language is structured.  This lack of awareness has caused high expectations to be placed on the Nez Perce Language Program (NPLP), which is often underfunded and understaffed.  It has long been understood that technology will play an essential role in the revitalization of the language, and has been a part of the NPLP mission statement since it’s inception. 

Technology will serve as a vehicle for the NPLP to reach a larger population and provide greater access to educational materials.

A partnership with Solve will help our development efforts toward technological advancement.  Although the NPLP is starting to learn the process of animation to share stories, there is still much more to be learned.  The NPLP staff will eventually need experience in coding and program development to continue to offer new and engaging tools to teach the Nez Perce language.

Ierhaps the use of technology will also provide an opportunity for people to virtually visit and see the sites described in the stories.

Thomas Gregory is a Nez Perce tribal member, and has been a been an integral part of the growth of the Nez Perce Language Program.  He has strong family ties to the community of Lapwai, Idaho, in which the Nez Perce Tribe is headquartered.  He was raised in the community, is a graduate of the Lapwai School District that the Nez Perce Language Program partners with very closely, and has children attending the schools.

He is well known in the community and amongst the students.  He is primarily known by his Nez Perce name and leads by example, attending powwows and community events.