I didn't know that it was a crime to speak American Indian in America. Well, in Milwaukee, it's apparently a punishable crime in school. A Catholic Diocese of Green Bay had to apologize to the Menominee Tribe recently, and the family of a seventh grade girl who was punished for using her native language at school. The mother said on Tuesday that she still wants her daughter's teacher fired for the unnecessary punishment.
Tanaes Washinawatok (try saying that name 10 times very fast!) said that teacher Julie Gurta did not accept blame for her actions in a letter that was supposed to be an apology. Washinatawok said that her 12-year-old daughter, Miranda (pictured above) interpreted the words "Hello" and "I love you" and then added how to say "thank you" when talking to two girl in class back on January 19. She said that Gurta overheard the interpretation and slammed her hands down on the desk and stated "You are not to speak like that! How do I know you're not saying something bad? How would you like if I spoke in Polish and you didn't understand?"
Later that day, Washinawatok's daughter was benched from a basketball game for having 'an attitude problem'. Washinawatok said that she's met with diocese and school officials, including the teacher, over the past month and they agreed to send apology letters. Washinawatok went on to explain that the issue is sensitive because tribal members used to be beaten for speaking their language in school, which is part of the reason they are losing their language. The thing here is that the girl wasn't speaking the language in the school, she was teaching fellows students a few words. If the teacher actually listened instead of jumping in midconversation, she would've heard what the words meant and that they weren't bad words. Sounds like someone needs to lighten up a bit! Also, I thought school was a place to learn? It sounds like the two other students were 'learning' words in Native American.
In the mid-1880s, the federal government established boarding schools that prohibited Native American students from acknowledging their culture, including language. Students were punished for using their native languages until the 1960s, and many elders, whom are still alive are afraid to teach the languages to children! I have to say this is a shame. The United States is a melting pot of nationalities. Do I hate it when people speak different languages in front of me? Sometimes. I'm guilty of not learning my family's native language of Cantonese, and unfortunately, that will die with me unless I spend the money on Rosetta Stone or something, but to be punished for using your native language is absurd!
In this day and age of being multi-cultured, it's hard to believe that this even happened. It really shows that the Midwest is still way behind in society. Can you imagine people were punished for speaking Spanish here on the East Coast? Man, we would be in trouble! I really don't see a problem with a Native American speaking Native American in America. What are your thoughts on this?
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