Mandy Nash, 32, Edmond, with her 11-day-old son Brendan and daughter Bryanna, 5, at the Chokka-chaffa’ Chikashshanompoli Albinachi (Chickasaw Language Immersion Family Camp) in Tatanka Ranch in Stroud, Okla., June 21. 2010. Photo by Marcy A. Gray.
STROUD, Okla. - Anthony Dwaine Enriquez spoke only Chickasaw and Choctaw when he was young.
As he grew up, he started speaking English and started forgetting the native languages. At 46, he had "lost everything" and wanted to relearn Chickasaw with his family, the Bridge Creek, Okla., native said.
Mr. Enriquez and his family were one of 10 families at the second annual Chokka-chaffa' Chikashshanompoli Albinachi (Chickasaw Language Immersion Family Camp) in Tatanka Ranch in Stroud, June 20-22.
"This camp is designed for families to come and learn Chickasaw in an engaging and fun environment," said Josh Hinson, director of the Department of Chickasaw Language and the Chickasaw Language Revitalization Program. "We try to teach them Chickasaw that is useful in the home from the get go."
The unique immersion aspect of the camp included several focused one-hour language activities, where campers were allowed to speak Chickasaw only.
"The goal of the immersion is to slow down and make people understand even when we are not allowed to speak English," Mr. Hinson said.
This was done through gestures, written translations, drawings as well as pause and point. The activities were followed by short review sessions where campers discussed what they learned and didn't understand.
The camp seeks to "spark that interest" for the Chickasaw language, Mr. Hinson said, so families would take over responsibility for their own learning.
"Unlike many of our cultural aspects which are shared with other tribes, Chickasaw language is the one thing that sets us apart," he said. "It's important that people continue to speak Chickasaw and we want that to happen in natural way in home."
The families were also provided with additional resources and activities to continue their learning after the camp.
Second-time participants Mandy Nash and her family enjoyed learning Chickasaw last year. The family came back for a second round, despite new arrival, 11-day-old son Brendan.
"The only way we wouldn't have come is if I was in the hospital," the 32-year-old Edmond native said, holding young Brendan.
The structure of the language camp, Mrs. Nash said, makes learning and retaining very easy. After last year's camp, family members started incorporating Chickasaw words into their daily lives.
Mrs. Nash also said it was important for her family to learn Chickasaw and become fluent speakers because it was "part of our heritage."
