Learning the Stoney Nakoda Language
Garside Gallery in Longview, Alberta. Photo by Jeff Nelson
Today we had our first class to learn the Stoney Nakoda language. This was an introductory session. We focused on the basics such as greetings, names of towns, numbers, and animals.
21 people attended including Debra Garside, Corrie Lynn Lefthand, Lane Bearspaw, and myself. Unfortunately, Keith Lefthand was not able to attend today - he will for future sessions.
Before getting started, we took a few minutes to get a coffee and breakfast sandwich or butter horn bun at the Little Apple Cafe and Bakery (not to be missed if you come to Longview).
Corrie-Lynn Lefthand and Lilly in the moss bag. Photo by Jeff Nelson.
Lane and Corrie Lynn brought 2 of their four children. Corrie Lynn carried Lilly, the youngest, in a moss bag. I wish I had taken a better picture but I was too stunned to remember.
After introductions, we practiced greetings, locations, numbers, and animal names. I’ll be honest, we struggled. Learning a new language is difficult. But everyone participated. Lane and Corrie-Lynn were fabulous teachers and coaches. The humour was outstanding. Lane made a few comments that had us all in stitches.
Lane Bearspaw, on the left, with participants. Photo by Jeff Nelson.
Special thanks to the following:
Karen Thompson and connectFirst Credit Union for sponsoring the event (literally, it was free for attendees)
Debra Garside for letting us use space in the gallery and Terri Scoville for hosting us today
Gavina Leslie and Christina Weir for getting up early to make available the hot coffee and delicious snacks
Corrie-Lynn Lefthand and Lane Bearspaw for their instruction, corrections, patience, and wonderful stories
Keith Lefthand for his gift of cultural awareness and his vision to eliminate racism