Tashká’na,

Good Thursday morning:

The Mandan or Nu’eta language is one of the endangered languages of the world. I’m working with my relatives at Fort Berthold to share regular posts of Nu’eta words to help more people learn the language. I have been listening to tapes of Edwin Benson, who is my grandson according to our Mandan clan system. Thanks to Lanny Real Bird and Cory Spotted Bear for all their dedicated work to language revitalization. Soon, I will add audio clips spoken by Benson, the last man alive born into Nu’eta (we the people) as a first language.

Meanwhile, here is today’s word:  kíhkanakta (sit down).

I’ve decided to post as much language revitalization information as I can to help bring attention to indigenous languages, which are disappearing in the blink of an eye. Within the next decade, 70 speakers are 70 years and older. As an enrolled citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, I am working with relatives in my community to help each other share and learn the endangered Nu’eta language, which is the language of the Twin Buttes community on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. I thank my cousin Cory Spotted Bear for all the work he’s been doing with Benson as part of a master-apprentice program. Spotted Bear has made made all these words available for us to share.

Also, our community is working on creating a Mandan Culture and Resource Center. We will be sharing information soon on how you can help revitalize the Nu’eta language.

Thanks.

Jodi Rave

Edwin Benson,

the last man alive born into Nu’eta as a first language.

Photo courtesy: Cory Spotted Bear.