Kuwneepuyôm
Kun8seeh is an online community where you--a Wampanoag language learner can learn, engage, and connect with your language & community whenever you want, from wherever you want. With the sole mission of increasing accessibility to all Wôpanâak language learners, Kun8seeh will continually add mulit-media content to enrich our language reclamation journey. Please visit often for new content such as language lessons, games, and stories!
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There are 3 main content areas in Kun8seeh. The "Community" area is available to all tribal households of Aquinnah, Assonet, Herring Pond, and Mashpee. It provides access to basic phrases, simple lessons, and word lists. More self guided content will be added as this website develops.
About Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project (WLRP)
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The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project began in 1993 under the direction of jessie 'little doe' baird who earned a Master’s Degree in Algonquian Linguistics from MIT in 2000. Through the joint collaborative efforts of members of The Assonet Band of Wampanoag, The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah and the Herring Pond Band of Wampanoag, our mission is to return language fluency to the Wampanoag Nation as a principal means of expression.
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You can find more information about WLRP at www.wlrp.org
About the creator of Kun8seeh
Tracy Kelley “Wunushq” is a proud member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. She was born and raised on the unceded territory of the Mashpee Wampanoag where she lives her purpose through youth work and language reclamation. She has been growing with Wôpanâôt8âôk (Wampanoag language) since the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project’s inception in 1993, as a language apprentice, student, instructor, illustrator, and author.
Ms. Kelley received her BA in Journalism and English from the University of Massachusetts—Amherst, and has always maintained commitment to her tribal community through her passion for her indigenous language. She earned her Master’s degree as part of MIT’s Indigenous Language Initiative where she studied theoretical linguistic coursework while simultaneously advancing her community’s language needs. She is focusing on increasing the tribe’s accessibility to pedagogic materials that incorporate audio and visual material. Her thesis resulted in the "Kun8seeh"digital language learning tool for her tribal community.
Acknowledgements
I would first like to acknowledge Manut and my Ancestors for the gift of Wôpanâôt8âôk. I am truly grateful for the sacrifice and prayers made seven generations ago to be on this path.
Kutâpatôtamawunumuw to the many people and organizations that have helped me on this journey of language reclamation:
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Nunâmôn Isaiah Tahshayuw for rerooting me in my language journey and embodying the teaching that our purpose and language work must be steadfast and full of compassion for the sake of our children, our descendants, and our survival.
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N8hkas kah nukuhk8tamwuhtyâeenune8m jessie little doe, for her vision, passion and commitment to the return and reclamation of Wôpanâôt8âôk. You inspire many through your sacred work in language reclamation. Now, people don't even wonder if they have an indigenous language or not--it's simply a matter of how to reclaim it.
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N8hsh for the encouragement to apply myself and for truly inspiring me to be creative, bold, and focused in all I do.
WLRP for the ongoing commitment to healing Wôpanâak through language and intergenerational education. Through their strategic planning and many resources, our community is able to flourish and carry on our language reclamation.
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Nukuhk8tamwuhtyâeenune8m Norvin at MIT for his ongoing commitment to Wôpanâôt8âôk through his teaching, dictionary work, remarkable knowledge of Algonquian languages, and unwavering availability for linguistic needs our community has.
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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Linguistics & Philosophy Department for the extraordinary faculty and staff, generous resources, and unwavering support required to complete this program. I am able to continue to grow my knowledge of generative linguistics and the development of accessible language materials for Wôpanâak through such support.
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My fellow eagle Alex for daring to fly high with me on our journeys through healing, teaching, learning, and mom-ing. To see the view takes so much love, faith, energy and focus, but it's always worth it.
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The family members, colleagues, my cohort Ling-18, Skeej Paul, my MIT Co-Indigemom, and close friends who support my language journey through listening, advising, reaffirming.
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Unâch
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