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| VOLUME 5, NO. 11 | April 6, 2008 |
What's NewBaby Steps—Walk Before You Run
By Kate Hedges, Konkow Wailaki Maidu Indian Cultural Preservation Association Editor’s Note: The Konkow Wailaki Maidu Indian Cultural Preservation Association is a current grantee in the Alliance’s Living Cultures Grants Program. Their in-progress project involves utilizing recordings of the of Koyongk’awi language acquired from UC Berkeley’s archives and working with Native languages linguist Sheri Tatsch, Ph.D., to develop a standardized writing system, outline teaching materials, and train members of the community in the writing system and some of the specifics of Koyongk’awi and basic linguistic principles. In the following article, Kate Hedges of the Konkow Wailaki Maidu Indian Cultural Preservation Association discusses the process of language revitalization as experienced by her community and the progression of their current project. The process of language revitalization is similar to the process of a baby learning to walk. An infant must learn to turn over and sit up before standing. The toddler pulls up again and again until one foot follows the other and then they are walking. There are failed attempts at first steps – and then a few steps – and then the perception of accomplishment makes them want to try to run, which brings more tumbles. Sooner or later, the motor skills necessary to walk and run and jump and dance are developed. If your language community is healthy there are generations of fluent speakers – language learning is as it should be, with an extended family of siblings and cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents, everyone holding the toddler’s hand and encouraging progress. Unfortunately, many California indigenous language communities are not healthy. The natural transmission of language to the infant at home has been lost. The extended family support system for indigenous language learning simply does not exist for far too many Native Californians. The Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival set out to change this situation some 15 years ago or so. The founding members were Native Californians, some fluent speakers, some not, but all cognizant of the need to preserve and encourage revitalization of California’s diverse language landscape before it is gone. Leanne Hinton, professor emerita, UC Berkeley, Linguistics Department, continues to bring her enthusiasm and considerable expertise to the ongoing process. Revitalization is easier with fluent speakers. The Advocates’ Master-Apprentice Program has had substantial success with several communities by pairing master speakers with apprentices interested in learning the language. By utilizing immersion techniques – speaking only in the indigenous language, no English – the teams approximate the natural language acquisition process. The program’s success is best illustrated by one of the first apprentices who is now raising her children with Karuk as their first language. The generational support system has been put back in place and the health of the language is ensured. Some language communities have no fluent speakers to pair apprentices with. The elders either don’t admit to knowing their language or think they have forgotten the language. For many their language was forbidden when they were children, when they were sent to the Indian Schools. Some elders don’t want to be asked to teach classes for many reasons, from health issues to uncertainty of how to teach. The Advocates’ Breath of Life – Silent No More workshop was inspired by L Frank Manriquez to provide revitalization assistance to those communities with no or few fluent speakers. The program grew from the desire of these language communities to learn their indigenous language, to speak their ancestors’ words, and to see the world as their people did. This sounds poetic but the truth is – it is hard work! In Our Own Words – The Negro Spirituals Heritage Keepers: Celebrate the Completion of Oakland’s First Negro Spirituals Oral Histories
Lily Kharrazi, Living Cultures Grants Manager, Alliance for California Traditional Arts “What they did not know was that a people who could not write their own name in any language were now writing for all time, one of the grandest pages in the history of the whole world of music”. These are the words of Hall Johnson, who is described as a tenacious preserver of Negro Spirituals from the 1920’s to the 1970’s. They are printed in the program notes of an extraordinary project that has just been completed by the Friends of Negro Spirituals (FNS), a nonprofit educational organization based in Oakland, California. On March 30,2008, the Friends of Negro Spirituals presented to the public a project that began when co-founder Lyvonne Chrisman took an extension class at Mills College on the how-to’s of oral history. Each time the class was offered, more members of FNS were in attendance. What resulted was collaboration with Mills College and librarian Nancy McKay and an ambitious plan to identify 10 heritage keepers among the community and record their oral histories regarding the role of Negro spirituals in their lives. The collected transcripts and interviews on DVDs are now available to the public through the Oakland Public Library’s History Room, the African American Museum and Library and Mills College. The project is supported in part by the Alliance’s Living Cultures Grants Program. Read more about the Friends of Negro Spiritual’s oral history project on the Alliance’s website. Haitian Voudou Drummer Frisner Augustin Visits the Bay Area
Lily Kharrazi, Living Cultures Grants Program Manager, Alliance for California Traditional Arts Frisner Augustin, master Haitian Voudou drummer and recipient of the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship in 1999, paid his first visit to the Bay Area last month. The occasion was to work closely with Mozel "Zeke" Nealy, a locally based drummer who might be considered a cornerstone artist himself because of the decades of drumming he has provided for Haitian dance classes as well as teaching drum technique throughout the Bay Area. The rare opportunity to deepen his study with a culture bearer like Frisner Augustin provided an understanding of the context of Haiti’s rich culture. With a panoply of over 100 rhythms, each “family” of rhythms is associated with its own songs, dance styles, and sometimes ritual practice. The Alliance supported this residency thought the Traditional Arts Development Program, which provides contracts designed to help artists and organizations get to their next level of development. For Zeke Nealy, the one-on-one tutorials and rich conversations are sure to impact his own teaching and artistry. During Frisner Augustin’s short stay here in California, he gave two public workshops in Haitian song and drum techniques. Explaining his humble origins, he simply remarked, “I was called to the drums,” referring to a tradition where trance allows the deities to descend and make their will known. Having encountered many stereotypes that are associated with Voudou since his arrival to the States in 1972, Augustin has been a cultural intermediary for many years. He established La Troupe Makandal in New York City, which he still directs and performs with. Zeke Nealy hopes that this visit will begin a new relationship with Augustin and the Bay Area community of drummers and dancers who are receptive and eager to learn more from this esteemed and affable drum master. Attention San Francisco Bay Area Folk, Traditional, and Tradition-Based Artists, Organizations, and Advocates!The Alliance for California Traditional Arts launches its Traditional Arts Roundtable Series, a free, participatory monthly series of gatherings at various locations in San Francisco for folk, traditional, and tradition-based artists and arts advocates. Sessions focus on specific themes and offer opportunities to engage in discussion, networking, and technical assistance in order to develop local, critical community amongst folk and traditional artists and their allies. To receive announcements regarding the rest of this series, please contact us, call (415) 346-3800, or check our website often for updates. This pilot series is made possible with support from the San Francisco Arts Commission Cultural Equity Grants Program. Join us for this upcoming session!Mother Tongues: Language Preservation, Interpretation and The Power of WordsDate: Sunday, April 27, 2008 Description: In an English-dominant world, what role does language play in cultural transmission, heritage and intergenerational relations? Join a rich discussion with indigenous, newcomer, and first- and second- generation born folk and traditional artists, storytellers and singers to discuss language impacts, best practices and challenges around language preservation, perpetuation and cultural transmission. Featured Participants: AdvocacyACTION ALERT: Support AB 2728! AB 2728 (D-Karnette) “as will be amended” requires that 20% of existing sales tax charged in two specific retail categories pertaining to arts, crafts and music be transferred to the California Arts Council. Key to concerns about the California budget deficit, AB 2728's amendment includes a “trigger” that would hold off its enactment until “the General Fund has achieved ongoing structural balance on or before July 1, 2015.” AB 2728 goes before the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee on April 8, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. Register your organization’s support. FAX YOUR SUPPORT LETTER RIGHT NOW!!! Then call your Board and ask them to do the same. Fax Assembly Member Betty Karnette at (916) 319-2154. What about the $14 billion deficit and the Governor’s fiscal emergency declaration? Recognizing that lawmakers are making difficult decisions about cutting programs and reducing costs, AB 2728 would only become operative when the General Fund has achieved ongoing structural balance on or before July 1, 2015. AB 2728 takes effect when the deficit is solved and the budget is balanced. What about lawmakers who say they are making difficult decisions about funding or cutting life-sustaining programs, and cannot consider new funding for the arts? We need to educate elected officials that AB 2728 would not take effect until a structural balance in the budget has been achieved. We also should inform them about arts organizations throughout the state, that have programs serving children, seniors, veterans, people with autism, cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The nonprofit arts sector provides programs for homeless children, foster children, victims of domestic violence, youth-at-risk, gang prevention and intervention, incarcerated juveniles and adults and prison re-entry programs. AB 2728 will help arts organizations to serve more people in California. What about lawmakers who say that the state cannot afford to support the arts? Inform your elected officials that the nonprofit arts sector generates $5.4 billion in economic activity in California, supporting 160,000 jobs. The arts bring more than $300 million to state and local tax coffers. Americans for the Arts reports that nationally, the arts and culture industry achieves $166.2 billion in economic activity every year, supporting 5.7 million jobs and generating $29.6 billion in government revenue. According to the 2008 Creative Industries Report, there are 98,949 arts-related businesses that employee 500,891 people in California. AB 2728 is a great investment that will produce an even greater return to California, its 37 million residents, 6 million children and millions of tourists. The California Arts Advocates have provided a sample letter that you and your colleagues can use to support AB 2728. Visit the California Arts Advocate’s website for more information and resources. FundingThe Alliance's Traditional Arts Development ProgramDeadline: Ongoing The Alliance’s Traditional Arts Development Program makes contracts up to $1,500 to support consultancies, mentorships, and travel opportunities that foster a new level of growth for individual folk & traditional artists and organizations engaged in this field in California. Requested services may be focused on organizational, program, and/or artistic development goals. Individual artists and cultural practitioners, as well as organizations, whether incorporated or not, may apply. A sampling of past contracts include: Artistic Mentorships Gen Taiko (San Francisco), an organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and presenting Japanese traditional arts including taiko (traditional Japanese drumming), traditional folk dance, and folk song forms. Its artistic director, Melody Takata, was trained by National Heritage Fellow Madame Fujima Kansuma to learn the Nihon Buyo (Japanese classical) dance called Kojo No Tsuki (Moonlit Castle Ruins). Ms. Takata taught the dance to four of her students and performed it at Gen Taiko’s 10th Anniversary Concert in November 2005. Organizational Consultancies: Kwashi Amevuvor (Los Angeles), a master drummer from Ghana, West Africa, worked with consultant Janet P***t, who assisted him with marketing and web design to develop professional promotional materials to publicize the work of the artist and the traditional cultural arts of Ghana. In addition, Ms. P***t’s consultancy supported Mr. Amevuvor’s efforts in organizing a cultural study tour of Ghana. Travel Opportunities The Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble (Foster City) traveled to Southern California to perform for an audience of over two thousand at the annual Magyar Sajtónap (Hungarian Press Day) hosted by the newspaper California Hungarians. At this event Eszterlanc dancers had the opportunity to perform with members of the Karpatok Folk Ensemble of Southern California, which is led by Istvan Szabo. Requests for organizational consultancies, artistic mentoring, and travel support may be submitted to the Alliance at any time. Download the application and application instructions from the Alliance’s website or call (559) 237-9812 to request a copy be mailed to you. The Alliance’s Traditional Arts Development Program is supported by grants from the California Arts Council, the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Guitar Center Music FoundationDeadline: Ongoing The Guitar Center Music Foundation’s mission is to aid nonprofit music programs across America that offer music instruction so that more people can experience the joys of making music. The Guitar Center Music Foundation accepts grant applications throughout the year from 501(c)(3) organizations that offer music instruction programs to participants of any age. The applicant program must successfully enhance the state of music education in the United States. The Grant Committee reviews all applications three times yearly, and grant awards range from $500 to $5,000. For more information visit the Guitar Center Music Foundation’s website. Elaine Weissman L.A. Treasures Award Deadline: Monthly The California Traditional Music Society (CTMS) and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) have announced the Elaine Weissman L.A. Treasures Awards 2007-2008 deadlines. This program supports folk and traditional performing and visual artists with $1,000 in funds for two public performances, workshops or exhibits - one planned by the award recipient, another chosen by CTMS and DCA. The Awards are named after Elaine Weissman, founder of CTMS and great promoter and supporter of folk and traditional arts, who passed away last year. An average of three L.A. Treasures Awards are given each month. Application deadlines are the first of each month from November 2007 through April 2008. Applications must arrive in the CTMS office no later than these dates. For more information, including guidelines and application forms, visit the California Traditional Music Society's website. If you would like a hard copy of the application sent to you, please contact Lisa Richardson at (818) 817-0094. Artists’ Resource for Completion
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FEATURES ABOUT ACTA The Alliance for California Traditional Arts strives to "ensure California's future holds California's past" by providing programs and services to support the state's diverse living cultural heritage. The Alliance cultivates the growth of traditional arts and culture through Stewardship, Services to Artists, and Connection-Making. CONTACT ACTA Website: Staff: Sherwood Chen, Associate Director Lily Kharrazi, Living Cultures Grants Program Manager Suzanne Hildebrand, Administrative Coordinator BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Arroyo, V.P. of Finance & Administration Melanie Beene Jo Farb Hernandez, Secretary Joel Jacinto, Sojin Kim, Ph.D. Amy Kitchener (ex officio) Frank LaPena Malcolm Margolin Libby Maynard Chike Nwoffiah, V.P. of External Development Peter Pennekamp, Executive Director Charlie Seemann, Board President Daniel Sheehy, Ph.D. Deborah Wong, Ph.D. Honorary Bess Lomax Hawes FUNDERS
Mi Coche – My Culture: Livin’ the Lowrider Lifestyle Kumeyaay: Indigenous People of Southern California ImprovisAsians 2008! – Origins of Now 23rd Annual Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair & Parade 12th Annual California Herdelijezi Festival Richard Hagopian and Grandsons in Concert Richard Hagopian Ensemble Salutes William Saroyan
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