Edwin Benson

Tashká’na,

I’d like to thank all the unsung heroes, the Native language caretakers in the tribal communities who dedicate each day to teaching indigenous languages. If we don’t all do our part, our languages will quickly disappear.

The Mandan or Nu’eta language is one of the endangered languages of the world. I’m working with my relatives at the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota to share regular posts of Nu’eta words to help more people learn the language. I have been listening to CD recordings of Edwin Benson, who is my grandson according to our Mandan clan system. The CDs were made by Lanny Real Bird and Cory Spotted Bear. A big thank you to them for all their dedicated language revitalization work. Soon, I will add audio clips spoken by Benson, the last man alive born into Nu’eta (We the People) as a first language. Benson lives in the Twin Buttes community at Fort Berthold.

Meanwhile, here is today’s word: ná tata (stand).

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 languages will become extinct in the United States. As an enrolled citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, I am working with relatives in my community to help share and learn the endangered Nu’eta language, which is the language of the Twin Buttes community. I thank my cousin Cory Spotted Bear for all the work he’s been doing with Benson as part of a master-apprentice program.

Also, the Twin Buttes community is working to create a Mandan Culture and Resource Center. We will be sharing information soon on how you can help revitalize the Nu’eta language and make a financial contribution to the center.

Thanks.

Jodi Rave

Photo: Edwin Benson, the last man alive born into Nu’eta as a first language.