Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana About Government Programs & Services TBED CERC Contact Citizen’s Portal Registration Log In Language & Culture Revitalization Click here to download this educators packet for resources and materials on the Tunica-Biloxi Language & Culture Revitalization Program. View all LCRP April ’21 Activities here. View LCRP & Education Department April ’21 Activities here. View all upcoming events here. In 2010, Council Member Brenda Lintinger forged an agreement with Dr. Judith Maxwell and Tulane University’s Linguistics Department to collaborate on the revitalization of the Tunica language. Over the succeeding years, John Barbry, Donna Pierite and Elisabeth Pierite-Mora have worked with Maxwell and Tulane graduate students to assemble and update materials compiled by linguists Albert Gatschet, John Swanton, and Mary Haas from the late 19th to early 20th century. Haas published three books on the Tunica language including a grammatical study, collection of cultural texts, and a Tunica-English dictionary. An updated Tunica dictionary has been edited by Dr. Patricia Anderson and is available on Webonary.org and in a beta-version mobile application. The Tunica Language Working Group (or Kuhpani Yoyani Luhchi Yoroni – KYLY) is nearing completion of a new Tunica Language Text Book. KYLY is an ongoing resource of collaboration and development of pedagogical tools for teaching and preserving the Tunica language. LCRP was created to establish a structural support for language and culture education. It also strives to plant a noticeable presence of the language on the reservation and throughout the extended community. The LCRP offices are located in the library at the Cultural & Educational Resources Center (CERC). LCRP also maintains a list of online resources on the Tunica language and Tunica-Biloxi ethnography. LCRP coordinates the following activities: Ongoing Tunica language instruction Development of Tunica language teaching materials Tunica-Biloxi Language & Culture Summer Camp for tribal youth Tunica language usage through visual and audible representations in public venues and events in the tribal community Interactive web-based mediums to facilitate distance learning Research and scholarship on Tunica-Biloxi history and culture Cultural workshops on traditional Tunica-Biloxi crafts and lifeways Operation of the CERC Library Language Classes LCRP facilitates four 8-week series of Tunica language classes each year in the Fall and Spring. An open house is held at the conclusion of each 8-week series for language learners and their families where language learners are afforded the opportunity to showcase what they learned. Upcoming Virtual Language Classes: (Classes are via Zoom) April 1 – 29 May 3 – 6 For continuing and interested students Mondays at 4 p.m. CST – Ages 5 – 10 Thursday at 4 p.m. CST – Ages 11 – 16 Thursdays at 5 p.m. CST – Ages 17 and older Contact Elisabeth Mora at emora@tunica.org or at (318) 240-6432 For a downloadable language class flyer, click here. To watch recent language classes, click here. LCRP will be hosting a virtual language class for ages 5-17. These classes are a fun way to learn the Tunica language! If you are interested, we ask that you download and fill out a registration form and return it to Elisabeth Mora. Please contact Elisabeth Mora for more information at (318) 240-6432 or email emora@tunica.org. To download a form to apply, click here. Online Language Classes In these live WebEx sessions, instructors use PowerPoint presentations to introduce Tunica words and phrases, engage learners in spoken Tunica language in real time and engage learners in written Tunica language through chat. Recorded sessions allow instructors to record the same lessons in video format so language learners unable to join live classes can view at their leisure. Registration and posting notices are sent out regularly to the tribal community. Cultural Workshops Cultural workshops are held periodically throughout the year. Language instructors present a Tunica language component at each workshop as it relates to each cultural tradition. Guest presenters from regional tribal communities are sometimes invited to participate. These workshops provide an opportunity to explore traditions that are both unique and shared by neighboring indigenous communities. Workshops include heritage crafts and lifeway activities such as: Pine needle basketry Cane basketry Stickball tradition Dance and ceremonial regalia making Traditional songs and dances Pow-wow dancing Quilting Tunica-Biloxi Language & Culture Summer Camp The Summer language and culture youth camp is held each June for ages 5-17. Daily lessons on the Tunica language are taught using traditional songs, stories and activities that reinforce usage of Tunica words. Each day, students practice speaking and singing the Tunica language. Language is an integral part of all activities. Students also learn pan-tribal pow-wow songs and dances, as well as dance regalia. With a variety of fun and educational activities, children are kept active, entertained and learning about their heritage. Tunica Language Immersion Workshop LCRP staff and Dr. Judith Maxwell of the Tulane University coordinate an annual Tunica language immersion workshop in January. Using a proven teaching model developed by Dr. Maxwell, the workshops are a fast and fun way to learn, speak and understand the Tunica language. The Adult workshop helps prepare parents who may want to volunteer for youth language and culture camp held in June. New language learners from the Tunica-Biloxi community are encouraged to attend. Cultural & Educational Resources Center (CERC) Library LCRP formally open the CERC Library to the public on July 27, 2015. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The library is non-circulating, requiring patrons to view collections in the library only. As a special library and information center, the collections complement the Tunica-Biloxi Museum and provide opportunity for more in-depth study and research on Tunica-Biloxi and other southeast indigenous cultures. The library currently contains over 1,700 titles. The CERC Library hosts ongoing programs featuring storytelling, music and demonstrations on local history and culture. As part of an early literacy initiative, LCRP has started a series of story time events based on standards from Every Child Ready to Read. For more information, contact: John Barbry Director of Development & Programming Language & Culture Revitalization Program 150 Melacon Road Marksville, LA 71351 (800) 272-9767, ext. 6412 jdbarbry@tunica.org Board Members: • Brenda Lintinger, Chairman • Bobby Pierite, Sr., Vice-Chairman • John Barbry, Spokes Person • Earl J. Barbry, Jr. • Jeremy Zahn • Marshall Pierite Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana 150 Melacon Road Marksville, Louisiana 71351 (318) 253-9767 (800) 272-9767 info@tunica.org Events No Events © 2018 Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. All rights reserved.