REJUVENATION EFFORTS AND THE BLACKFOOT LANGUAGE, FAILURES, AND SUCCESSES

In Chapter 20, “Rejuvenation Efforts and the Blackfoot Language, Failures, and Successes, " Sterling HolyWhiteMountain and Neyooxet Greymorning reflect on their January 2016 discussion with Robert Hall to rejuvenate the Blackfoot language. The chapter weaves through discussions of issues that have led language teachers to pursue teaching methods that have not worked. As reasons for their failures are explored the chapter reveals how all too often language is taught through memorizing word lists and verb conjugations, which rarely produces language speakers. As Sterling and Neyooxet reflect on aspects that bring about failures and successes, Sterling raises the question: “Who or what are we without our languages?".