Author: Jorneybaldwin

Language plays a crucial role in cultures. In Indigenous languages, we can understand one’s history through the nuances of their language. Given the cultural richness of these languages, it is distressing to see them constantly under threat. During my undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, I worked with Enna Helms and Patty Gephardt on revitalizing the Hanis Coos Language, which I used for my Bachelor of Arts credit. This language revitalization process allowed me to immerse myself in stories and culture specific to the land where I was raised. After spending several years on this project, I began to wonder what language preservation looks like in other Indigenous communities.

In our first week in Ghana, we met with Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, a journalism professor at the University of Ghana. Professor Gadzekpo briefly discussed the topic of tribal languages in the media and their influence on consumers. Regarding the ethical considerations of language usage in Ghanaian media, Gadzekpo noted that 80% of Ghanaians can understand and speak Twi, one of the Indigenous languages, even if it is not their Native language, while English is the official language of Ghana. Gadzekpo pointed out that reporting in local languages can be problematic due to the “storytelling” nature of Indigenous languages, which can affect how events are highlighted. This insight was intriguing when considering how advertising in Ghana and the preservation of Indigenous languages have evolved over the years, and the communication styles of Indigenous peoples today. 

Impact on Cultural Identity 

Language is a tool for communicating with others and preserving culture, traditions, and histories among communities. Languages transmit knowledge and values from one generation to the next, encapsulating the worldview and ethos of a community. When a language disappears, so does a significant part of that cultural identity. This is why language revitalization is crucial for Indigenous communities. This is especially significant for my tribe, given the lack of representation Native Americans receive in the media and the varying degrees of federal and state recognition. Knowing our language can inspire future generations to keep our culture thriving and immerse themselves in it.

After our discussion with Professor Gadzekpo, we heard from Professor Abena Yeboah-Banin, who spoke about advertising in Ghana. Professor Yeboah-Banin shared recent studies conducted by her students, which examined the influence of advertisements and the most effective languages used in them. The studies revealed that blended languages, such as English and Twi, were the most successful. This approach not only targets the audience but also personalizes the advertisements, making individuals feel heard and seen.

Maintaining our cultural identity is paramount in Indigenous cultures. Connecting advertising with mixed-language concepts can help people feel represented and acknowledged while honoring their heritage.

Sense of Belonging  

Speaking and understanding one’s Native language fosters a strong sense of belonging and community. It connects individuals to their ancestry and heritage, reinforcing their cultural identity. This sense of belonging is crucial for the well-being and cohesion of any community. When people feel connected to their roots and their cultural narratives, they experience a deeper sense of identity and pride.

During our conversation with Professor Yeboah-Banin, she highlighted key aspects of the language learning process in Ghana, which mirrored experiences within Indigenous communities in America. One parallel is that languages in Ghana are typically spoken rather than read or written, with many people unable to read or write in their Native languages. This is why mixed media proves most effective for advertisements and why radio and TV have more connections to Indigenous languages, rather than other news sources such as newspapers. Yeboah-Banin shared her personal testimony about having to speak English in school to perform basic tasks, like asking to use the restroom, instead of her village language. This reminded me of the boarding schools Native Americans attended, where students were forced to speak only English, reflecting the “Kill the Indian, Save the Man” ideology.

The forced suppression of Native languages not only disconnects individuals from their cultural heritage but also erodes their sense of belonging. In my family, the language was not passed down because it was believed to be unnecessary. Parents were prohibited from teaching or speaking to their children in their Native language, facing severe consequences if they did. This disruption in language transmission has led to significant gaps in our history and weakened our community bonds.

One aspect I admire about language preservation in Ghana is its very existence. Efforts to maintain and revive Native languages foster a sense of belonging among community members, reconnecting them with their cultural roots and heritage. This is something I deeply wish had been different for my tribe. Language preservation could have strengthened our community, providing continuity and a shared sense of identity. For Indigenous communities, the ability to speak and understand one’s native language is not just about communication; it’s about belonging, identity, and cultural survival.

Challenges and Resilience

Media literacy presents a challenge when incorporating Native languages into the media, primarily due to the storytelling emphasis inherent in Indigenous languages. Professor Gadzekpo highlighted another issue: individuals fluent in Indigenous languages often lack journalism or media training, leading to embellishments within media platforms. Despite these challenges, preserving languages and histories remains crucial for Indigenous communities. Effective language preservation can also help brands connect more authentically with their target audiences when marketing to Indigenous communities.

In Ghana, efforts to preserve Native languages have overcome many barriers, such as limited resources and institutional support. This contrasts with Indigenous communities that still struggle to keep their languages alive amid insufficient support and generational gaps.

Language revitalization contributes to healing and reconciliation, especially in communities that have suffered from historical injustices and cultural suppression. Language projects can serve as a form of cultural resurgence and empowerment. Preserving Indigenous languages is not just about saving words but about maintaining the cultural fabric and heritage of entire communities. The importance of ongoing support, awareness, and active participation in language preservation efforts ensures that Indigenous languages and cultures thrive for generations to come. 

Within the next few weeks, I will investigate the influences of Indigenous languages, their connection to Ghanaian mental health, and the connections this has to Indigenous peoples of America. Exploring how language shapes identity and well-being is crucial to understanding the holistic impact of language revitalization efforts on communities and how media representation can support these efforts.

Have you ever heard of travelers’ guilt? As the eldest daughter, leaving my family and community back in Oregon has been challenging, as I briefly mentioned in my previous blog post, “Pre-Journey to Ghana: Embracing Challenges and Cultivating Connections.” I did anticipate feeling homesick and missing the normality of daily routines, but I had not realized that I would also be experiencing lingering guilt when traveling to places no one in my family has ever been, especially those highly romanticized; I often wish my family could share these experiences.

One thing I constantly struggle with is when people say that I am lucky. Labeling my achievements as luck can sometimes diminish the struggles and hardships that my community and I have faced. While I am fortunate in many ways, I am dedicated, persistent, and hardworking. Reducing these experiences to mere luck may seem right to some, but when someone tells me how lucky I am, it feels like all my efforts—and the efforts of my ancestors who pushed boundaries and faced challenges to get me where I am today—are dismissed. However, it is hard not to feel like I am just lucky and undeserving of these opportunities that my loved ones have never been able to experience. Some may call this imposter syndrome, something I have battled throughout my education.

One of my mentors, Dakota MacColl, who collaborated with me on the “Thanks, But No Thanksgiving” workshops at the University of Oregon in previous years (and is now a medical student at the University of Minnesota Duluth, WHOOP WHOOP!!!) shared an insight about how Indigenous people deal with imposter syndrome that has profoundly impacted my educational journey. MacColl explained that imposter syndrome and the negative self-talk Indigenous people experience are often connected to generations of hatred placed upon our ancestors, which still affects us today. This resonated deeply with me, especially when navigating higher education and feeling like I don’t belong. MacColl’s words remind me that these negative voices are echoes of past oppressions and not the truth about our worth and capabilities.

Knowing this and my family and their values, I know my loved ones wouldn’t want me to feel guilty for these opportunities. Even though I am traveling for internships, it still feels unfair that some people may never get to see and explore the places I am fortunate to experience. 

Still, enjoying my travels has been challenging due to constant FOMO (fear of missing out) back home. Taking several months off work to try something I wasn’t even sure I’d enjoy and using my savings for it felt scary. Traveling itself can already be intimidating without compounding guilt. However, recognizing that many people travel regularly helps alleviate any unease about embarking on this journey alone. Considering generational guilt adds to this sense of obligation. Traveling alone, focused solely on learning, is unfamiliar territory for me and can be unsettling. However, there comes a point where pursuing individual experiences opens new opportunities for my community, and it’s okay to embark on these journeys independently. 

But how do you deal with these internal challenges? 

The first step for me has been to cultivate a deep gratitude for these experiences. I’m immensely thankful for the donations from my family and friends that helped make this dream a reality and the scholarships I received from the School of Journalism and Communications and the University of Oregon. Despite the immense time and dedication that went into planning and securing funds for this journey, I still feel a significant amount of guilt for being able to pursue these opportunities—even though I worked hard to get here. I often think about how hard my family and ancestors worked to make it possible for me to pursue my dreams, and I know these achievements wouldn’t be possible without them. Connecting to that sense of gratitude helps alleviate the guilt. 

The second step is to remember that you can share these experiences with your loved ones through phone calls, photos, or blog posts! Sharing your adventures and stories helps connect you to those you care about. Over time, I’ve learned that we are made up of stories that connect us to one another. Sharing experiences and dreams helps others find their way to dream bigger and love harder. 

Every day, in addition to striving to learn something new, my goal is to share my experiences to inspire others to believe that their dreams are achievable, too. It may sound cliché, but showing others that things are possible can transform how they view themselves and their aspirations. I have experienced this firsthand by watching others in higher education pursue their goals and advocate for themselves. Hearing people speak casually about experiences like traveling the world can be surprising, but normalizing these activities helps others feel more comfortable pushing boundaries and pursuing their dreams. Although my experiences may not lead one to want to travel the world or anything of the sort, it may help someone see that making that phone call or scheduling that appointment isn’t as scary as it may seem. 

Let’s share our thoughts and support each other in overcoming travelers’ guilt and intergenerational guilt! ( Hey Siri, play Matilda by Harry Styles)

luwwi, 

Jorney 

Joshua Davies currently serves as the Native American Education Program Administrator for the Eugene 4J School District. In this role, he oversees a federal grant designed to address the needs of Native American students in the district. The program he manages, known as the Native Americans Towards Improved Values in Education and Society (NATIVES), supports 800 students from K-12, representing approximately 189 tribes across the nation. Despite recently assuming this position, working for the 4J school district has been Davies’s lifelong aspiration since completing his undergraduate degree.

Davies has a deep-rooted commitment to underrepresented youth, stemming from his upbringing in a Native household and the influence of Native educators who emphasized the importance of education. His desire to help students and communities with fewer opportunities became evident early on, guiding his educational and career pursuits. Having moved from Coos Bay, OR, to Eugene, OR, Davies brings a wealth of experience, including roles as a third-grade student teacher, a six-year tenure as a 6th-grade teacher, and various leadership positions during the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the interview, Davies acknowledged the mentorship he received from Brenda Brainard, a member of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw tribes, who previously held the position of Native American Education Program Administrator for the 4J school district. This role, made possible by the Indian Education Act of 1972, serves to unite Native youth for cultural learning and engagement at no cost to students or families.

In his current role, Davies collaborates with students, faculty, and families while leading a dedicated four-person team. The team focuses on delivering presentations on diverse topics, such as Indigenous foods and land sovereignty, to schools in the district. Despite their small size, the team actively ensures that schools receive accurate educational resources, and Native students receive the necessary support both inside and outside the classroom. Davies highlighted initiatives like “read and feeds” on the first Wednesday of the month and culture nights on subsequent Wednesdays, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe and positive environment for all students.

As Davies continues his career in Native education, his goal is to make a positive impact on Indigenous students and contribute to their future educational endeavors by supporting the community as a whole.

Heading home for the holidays often stirs a mix of emotions. Whether reconnecting with family members you haven’t seen in a while or unexpectedly finding yourself in social situations with high school acquaintances, striking a balance between fostering healthy connections and recognizing when it’s time to disengage can be challenging.

In my interactions and relationships, I emphasize the equality of every individual. Recognizing that everyone has distinct lived experiences, varying perspectives on topics, diverse religious beliefs, and unique insights shaped by upbringing and available safe spaces for educational conversations is crucial. Despite differing views on life and people, fostering respectful discussions to better understand others’ viewpoints is a goal I strive for. While acknowledging the imperfect nature of the world and the occasional stubbornness of individuals, I believe in the importance of making an effort.

Navigating these conversations, especially around the holiday season, can be particularly challenging. Following Thanksgiving and with Christmas approaching, I’d like to share some tips and strategies I employ when engaging with people from my past in my evolved state.

My friend and former colleague, Dakota Maccoll, and I conducted a “Thanks But No Thanksgiving” workshop at the University of Oregon, focusing on revealing the true narrative of Thanksgiving. Drawing from this experience, I’ll delve into the distinctions between dialogue and debate, shedding light on effective conversation techniques.

A special acknowledgment goes to Maccoll for teaching me the terminology to articulate these concepts, and facilitating improved communication for those who, like me, sometimes find expressing emotions and thoughts challenging. I’ll discuss our collaborative efforts throughout 2020-2021, omitting the Thanksgiving connection.

Dialogue vs. Debate:

Dialogue:

• Collaboration toward a shared understanding.
• Genuine concern for the other person without seeking to offend or attack their beliefs.
• Seeking areas of agreement and strengths in the conversation.
• Identifying common goals.
• Embracing openness to being wrong and a willingness to change for mutual solutions.

Debate:

• Attempting to prove each other wrong.
• Prioritizing winning, regardless of correctness.
• Defending assumptions as absolute truth.
• Fostering a close-minded attitude.
• Assuming there is a single correct answer even for open-ended topics.
• Aiming for a conclusion.

Navigating Conversations:

Effectively managing emotions:

• Surrounding oneself with diverse perspectives for educational conversations.
• Communicating feelings in a non-judgmental manner.
• Recognizing when to remove oneself from a conversation based on its nature.

Planning:

• Reflecting on past conversations for best and worst-case scenarios.
• Identifying potential challenging topics and anticipating positive and negative reactions.
• Evaluating the stakeholders and the conversation’s worth.
• Acknowledging the importance of mental health and being willing to disengage when necessary.

Pro-Tip: Prioritize your mental health. If a situation feels unsafe or highly uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to leave. Your well-being is paramount, and others should understand and respect that.