Fwd from JYRI - Language and a brief local report

I’m taking advantage of Jyri’s goodnote to mention that Eldri is doing pretty well – with her heart problem wellunder control via a combo of meds that includes one relatively new in the medicalworld.The rest of us are OK as well.
The weather here is rainy andcolder.A few days ago, Fire Season wasofficially declared dead for this year.
I know many instances where smallerNative tribes have lost their language but continued to maintain their basicand primary socio-cultural identity.Jyri’s point on the Roma (his post follows immediately ) is certainlywell taken. He knows much more about those good people than I do.
I fully expect, as do most knowledgeablepersons, that Native Americans and their respective tribal structures andcultures will always remain.All have aland base, frequently via treaty rights or related agreements – and, in anycase, the primary – primary -- Native commitment to tribe (as both one bigfamily and nation as well) and to its tribal culture, is extremely powerful.I strongly suspect that this is true ofFourth World tribal people globally.
But we certainly applaud thepreservation of the indigenous languages, their extension within theirrespective societies, and all restoration efforts where they’ve becomeextinct.Over the long pull especially,language is a major supportive dimension for sure.(H)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jyri Kokkonen 
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2014 08:40 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Very interesting fwd from Peter G. Salter: Navajo

Dear Hunter,
An outsider’s reaction and questions re. the language issue in the context of recent and ongoing professional work with Roma cultural activists. 
A completely different situation from that of indigenous people, but the majority of Roma in Finland, Scandinavia and many parts of Europe have “lost” their language, this process having begun several generations ago. Nonetheless, cultural identity, pride and political awareness run strong, clearly defying the layman’s (my) perceptions of the primacy of language. Other, more significant elements of identity? A process of replacement? A different “folk psychology”?
Again for an outsider, command of the language would nonetheless seem to be the bona fides of anyone campaigning for leadership in an ethnic setting. 
Best,
Jyri


From:Hunter Gray
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2014 8:17 PM
To:bearwithoutborders ; newgreencanada ; redbadbear ; sycamorecanyon
Subject: Very interesting fwd from Peter G. Salter: Navajo






-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Salter 
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2014 11:00 AM
To: 'Hunter Gray'
Subject: Navajo

Interesting story in the New York Times about a candidate for Navajo Nation president who doesn't speak the language....

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/27/us/a-presidential-candidate-in-navajo-nation-protests-a-language-requirement.html