Change is hard
Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa School school as it stands today (Courtesy: Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa School)
Story told by Kaia’titáhkhe Jacobs
It seems everything important begins with a protest. When Kanien’kéha immersion first started, it became an issue in our community. It was thought that teaching culture and language would hold one back from making progress in school.
That was hard because the community was divided. There were a lot of meetings and eventually it did happen. It was decided that immersion would be a choice for those parents who wanted their children enrolled. So, Aoskón Immersion began at the nursery and kindergarten level.
Before that, when Kanien’kéha was a second language subject and was being taught for 15 minutes a day, it was fine. People enjoyed it. It was cute.
They’d learn the words. They learned how to say “kwe.” They’d learned how to say “ó:nen.”
Words. But no real communication. It became necessary to do more.
It seems we have to get into this little bit of a struggle before any change happens. I don’t know why but change is hard.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Wentó:re’
Kaia’titáhkhe Jacobs IAKOKÁ:RATON
Á:ienhre'k akwé:kon tsi nahò:ten’ iorihowá:nen entewatáhsawen' nó:nen enkarihwáien'. Shontontáhsawen’ ne aóskon Kanien’kéha wahonwatirihónnien’, wa’tewa’nikonhrhá:ren’ ne onkwaná:takon.
Ronnéhrhahkwe’ tóka’ enhowatirihónnien’ tsi niionkwarihò:ten tánon’ tsi nitewawennò:ten eniakoió'tatshe' tsi ní:tsi ionteweiénstha'.
É:so tsi wentoréhne’ nè:’e tsi tehotinenhrakháhsion onkwaná:takon. É:so ionkwatkennisa’aniòn:ne’ sok kwató:ken nikarì:wes tho ki’ na’á:wen’ne’. Ia’teiorihwaientà:’on tsi enwá:ton' ronwatiien'okòn:'a enhatirá:ko' aóskon Kanien'kéha ahonteweiénsthake'. Tontáhsawen’ káti' Aóskon Onkwehonwehnéha wahonwatirihónnien’ nursery tánon’ kindergarten ratíhawe'. Ohén:ton ne thó:ne, tekeníhaton nié:kate' ne Kanien'kéha tánon' wísk iawén:re nikahseriiè:take thia'tewenhniserá:ke ronwatirihonnienníhahkwe', thikawenní:io. Wahonon'wéskwen' ne onkwehshòn:’a. Teiotcute iá:ken.
Owenna'shòn:'a enhatiweientéhta’ne’. Enhatiweientéhta’ne’ oh ní:tsi ahonnì:ron’ “Kwe”. Enhatiweientéhta’ne’ oh ní:tsi ahonnì:ron’ “Ó:nen”.
Owenna’shòn:’a. Nek tsi iah kwah tha’tehatihtháhrha’. Wa'tewatonhóntsohwe' ne ísi' nón: nakaié:ren.
Á:ienhre’k tsi teiotonhontsóhon ostón:ha taiakwatátienhte’ ohén:ton othé:nen tenwatté:ni’. Iah tewakaterièn:tare' oh nontié:ren nek tsi wén:tore' ki' taontté:ni'.
Translated by Sahawisó:ko’ Arquette