ENTEWÀ:RON’K
Date
2016
Authors
Brant, Joe (Thohtharátye)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Victoria
Abstract
Thohtharátye (Joe Brant) shares auto-ethnographic reflections that exemplify what it takes to create and maintain a Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk Language) speaking home. As adult second language learners of Kanyenkéha, the author and his partner Tewahséhtha, dedicated themselves to learning Kanyen’kéha and passing it on to their children as their first language. Overcoming issues of dialect extinction, resource availability and second language Kanyen’kéha speaking abilities, they persevered and succeeded by creating the first, first language Kanyen’kéha speakers in their community of Kahá:nayen (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory) in over sixty years. Thohtharátye identifies three over-arching principles that are equal and interdependent in creating and maintaining a Kanyen’kéha speaking home: An Unwavering Loyalty to Kanyen’kéha; Reclaiming Domains of Kanyen’kéha Use; and Heeding to Natural Language Acquisition Processes. He presented his auto-ethnography narratives to Kanyen’kéha language stakeholders in three Kanyen’kehà:ka (Mohawk) communities. He summarized the presentations in an accompanying culminating video and has also completed the following report to share his research. The goal of his research is to exemplify best practices in Kanyen’kéha learning and inspire Kanyen’kéha learners to create and maintain Kanyen’kéha speaking homes.