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Native American languages are vessels of culture, tradition, and identity. Each word carries the essence of its speakers, linking past and present. For centuries, forced assimilation policies prohibited Native people from speaking their languages, with boarding schools even punishing children for using them. As a result, more than half of the 300 Indigenous languages once spoken in North America have disappeared.
But many Native communities secretly preserved their linguistic heritage, passing it down through generations. Today, several Native languages are still fluently spoken within tribal communities, preserving diversity and strengthening cultural bonds.
Language revitalization efforts, such as the Houma Language Project (HLP), aim to revive the Uma language of the United Houma Nation. Colleen Billiot, an enrolled member, passionately advocates for this cause.
Colleen Billiot
Verite News: Can you share your background and what led you to begin the Houma language revitalization project?
Colleen Billiot: I grew up with my pawpaw taking me to tribal council meetings every month, often with one or two of his cousins riding along. He always instilled in me a sense of pride in being Houma and a desire to be involved. Everything I do, including the Houma Language Project, isn’t about building my own legacy but is me continuing the legacy of my pawpaw and great-grandparents. My interest in language revitalization was sparked by a recording of my great-mawmaw, Elvira Molinere Billiot, and another Houma woman, Valentine Dardar, singing in Houma. My dad gave me this recording before he left for Afghanistan, and it made me realize the importance of preserving our language.
Verite News: What were the initial steps taken by you to start this language reclamation effort?
Colleen Billiot: The Houma Language Project started as an all-volunteer effort independent of the United Houma Nation, although we have partnered with the Tribe in the past. We received great support from council members, tribal elders, and Houma families. But we started with just 2 Houma and our dreams. We began by reaching out to local universities like LSU and Tulane, which helped us understand the resources needed for a project like this. The early days involved a lot of relationship-building with elders and researching old documents. It taught us how to be better relatives and truly understand our cultural roots.
Verite News: What are the main programs and activities currently being undertaken to revive the Houma language, and how do you engage different age groups, especially the younger generation, in learning and using the Houma language?
Colleen Billiot: HLP focuses on three main pillars: connecting the community to the language, reclaiming the language based on research, and archiving documents for future generations. We offer comprehensive language learning lessons through 7000 languages and continuously build educational materials like vocabulary and grammar videos. We engage different age groups through internship programs, social media, and community events like Jazz Fest and Tasso Time. We’re proud to see Houma youth using the language in their projects, like Mariah Hernandez-Fitch’s short film “Ekbeh” shown at Sundance. Learning is often intergenerational, with families involved in the process, creating heartwarming moments such as a mom confirming the spelling of “Happy Birthday” in Uma’ for her son’s birthday cake.
Verite News: What role do elders and fluent speakers play in the revitalization efforts?
Colleen Billiot: Although we don’t have native speakers of Uma’ anymore, our elders are invaluable supporters. They’ve pushed us to meet with as many elders as possible to gain their blessings and support. Elders like Corrine Paulk and former chief Kirby Verret have been instrumental in encouraging us and providing invaluable knowledge. They bring humor, strength, and kindness into everything they do, and their stories are crucial to our archiving efforts.
Verite News: What have been the most significant challenges in the process of revitalizing the Houma language?
Colleen Billiot: One of the biggest hurdles was the lack of resources to bring back Uma’ exactly as it was. We had to reclaim the language by analyzing and comparing it to other Muskogean languages to determine the patterns unique to Uma.’ Neither Hali nor I were linguistics majors, so we relied heavily on external support, such as Native linguists from other nations. We’ve been extremely fortunate with the linguists who have joined HLP—they always act like good relatives, deferring to Houma team members when it comes to language rule choices. Being 99% digital has also helped. Our resources are stored online, and our language lessons are available virtually, ensuring access for the Houma community worldwide.
The journey of reclaiming the Uma language is filled with challenges and triumphs. Colleen Billiot and her team’s dedication to this cause is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Houma people.
Coming in July: We will explore the innovative solutions and strategies the Houma Language Project has employed to overcome obstacles, the impact of their work on the community, and their future aspirations for the language.
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Q&A: Effort seeks to revive the languages of Native Americans
by Brandi Liberty, Verite News New Orleans June 25, 2024
Brandi Liberty is an enrolled member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska and a descendant of the United Houma Nation in Southern Louisiana. She is the owner of The Luak Group and its subsidiary...
More by Brandi Liberty
Q&A: Effort seeks to revive the languages of Native Americans
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Everyone deserves access to quality information. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Native American languages are vessels of culture, tradition, and identity. Each word carries the essence of its speakers, linking past and present. For centuries, forced assimilation policies prohibited Native people from speaking their languages, with boarding schools even punishing children for using them. As a result, more than half of the 300 Indigenous languages once spoken in North America have disappeared.
But many Native communities secretly preserved their linguistic heritage, passing it down through generations. Today, several Native languages are still fluently spoken within tribal communities, preserving diversity and strengthening cultural bonds.
Language revitalization efforts, such as the Houma Language Project (HLP), aim to revive the Uma language of the United Houma Nation. Colleen Billiot, an enrolled member, passionately advocates for this cause.
Verite News: Can you share your background and what led you to begin the Houma language revitalization project?
Colleen Billiot: I grew up with my pawpaw taking me to tribal council meetings every month, often with one or two of his cousins riding along. He always instilled in me a sense of pride in being Houma and a desire to be involved. Everything I do, including the Houma Language Project, isn’t about building my own legacy but is me continuing the legacy of my pawpaw and great-grandparents. My interest in language revitalization was sparked by a recording of my great-mawmaw, Elvira Molinere Billiot, and another Houma woman, Valentine Dardar, singing in Houma. My dad gave me this recording before he left for Afghanistan, and it made me realize the importance of preserving our language.
Verite News: What were the initial steps taken by you to start this language reclamation effort?
Colleen Billiot: The Houma Language Project started as an all-volunteer effort independent of the United Houma Nation, although we have partnered with the Tribe in the past. We received great support from council members, tribal elders, and Houma families. But we started with just 2 Houma and our dreams. We began by reaching out to local universities like LSU and Tulane, which helped us understand the resources needed for a project like this. The early days involved a lot of relationship-building with elders and researching old documents. It taught us how to be better relatives and truly understand our cultural roots.
Verite News: What are the main programs and activities currently being undertaken to revive the Houma language, and how do you engage different age groups, especially the younger generation, in learning and using the Houma language?
Colleen Billiot: HLP focuses on three main pillars: connecting the community to the language, reclaiming the language based on research, and archiving documents for future generations. We offer comprehensive language learning lessons through 7000 languages and continuously build educational materials like vocabulary and grammar videos. We engage different age groups through internship programs, social media, and community events like Jazz Fest and Tasso Time. We’re proud to see Houma youth using the language in their projects, like Mariah Hernandez-Fitch’s short film “Ekbeh” shown at Sundance. Learning is often intergenerational, with families involved in the process, creating heartwarming moments such as a mom confirming the spelling of “Happy Birthday” in Uma’ for her son’s birthday cake.
Verite News: What role do elders and fluent speakers play in the revitalization efforts?
Colleen Billiot: Although we don’t have native speakers of Uma’ anymore, our elders are invaluable supporters. They’ve pushed us to meet with as many elders as possible to gain their blessings and support. Elders like Corrine Paulk and former chief Kirby Verret have been instrumental in encouraging us and providing invaluable knowledge. They bring humor, strength, and kindness into everything they do, and their stories are crucial to our archiving efforts.
Verite News: What have been the most significant challenges in the process of revitalizing the Houma language?
Colleen Billiot: One of the biggest hurdles was the lack of resources to bring back Uma’ exactly as it was. We had to reclaim the language by analyzing and comparing it to other Muskogean languages to determine the patterns unique to Uma.’ Neither Hali nor I were linguistics majors, so we relied heavily on external support, such as Native linguists from other nations. We’ve been extremely fortunate with the linguists who have joined HLP—they always act like good relatives, deferring to Houma team members when it comes to language rule choices. Being 99% digital has also helped. Our resources are stored online, and our language lessons are available virtually, ensuring access for the Houma community worldwide.
The journey of reclaiming the Uma language is filled with challenges and triumphs. Colleen Billiot and her team’s dedication to this cause is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Houma people.
Coming in July: We will explore the innovative solutions and strategies the Houma Language Project has employed to overcome obstacles, the impact of their work on the community, and their future aspirations for the language.
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Brandi Liberty
Brandi Liberty is an enrolled member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska and a descendant of the United Houma Nation in Southern Louisiana. She is the owner of The Luak Group and its subsidiary... More by Brandi Liberty