Photo: Rock Greendeer
For generations, Wisconsin’s Native American children were shipped to one of eleven boarding schools in the state where they were not allowed to speak Ho-Chunk, the root language of one of the 11 federally recognized tribes in the state. With fewer than 30 first-language speakers, Ho-Chunk is now considered an endangered language. Rock Greendeer, who hosts Ho-Chunk language feast classes, different teachings intertwined with Ho-Chunk, English, and phonetic Ho-Chunk words and phrases spoken in traditional ceremonies, is trying to empower other people to pass the culture on. The Ho-Chunk Language Division started the Hoocak Academy to provide language learning materials, resources and instructional learning for the community. Classes are available in person and online. The Nation also created a large-scale online dictionary, including audio recordings that are part of a decades-long effort to develop learning materials to sustain the language. “This is our way of life, we need to save it,” says Greendeer.
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