The growing presence of Native American students on the Texas State campus can no longer be ignored. According to statistics gathered by the university's Department of Institutional Resources, the number of students attending has grown by 58.6% from 1999 to 2010. This presence manifests itself in several ways including the Native American Student Association or NASA.
NASA hosted an inter-tribal powwow, bringing people from all walks to life to Texas State to celebrate all Native American cultures. Among those people included the student members of NASA, presenters and performers from different tribes and others who came simply to enjoy the show.
“I think the organization gives students a sense of community since it is such a small minority,” said sophomore Brittany Thornton. “They can connect with each other and become involved in activities that promotes Native American cultures.”
Thornton, a Muscogee (Creek) Indian, is reconnecting with her Native American roots. She is actively trying to recover the language that her grandfather speaks.
“He, well he was in jail, but he was sending me packets, papers that had the words written out,” said Thornton. “But it’s really hard if you can’t hear it. I would never know if I was saying it the right way.”
Reilly, as well as Thornton, believes that hearing the Muscogee (Creek) language spoken by a fluent speaker is a key component to learning the language and, for this reason, finds a need for a Native language class through the university. However, as is the concern of some faculty at Texas State, Thornton does not know if the program could be successful.
“I think it could go either way,” said Thornton. “It’s not really popular, like one of the more well known tribes. Everybody knows Cherokee. I really don’t know.”
Some faculty members are concerned that, because the language is not in high demand, it will not be possible to generate enough interest in the class to enable the program to proceed. Though other languages, such as Chinese, Japanese and Arabic, are not in high demand and have succeeded, it takes student interest and commitment sustain a Native Language program.
“I would definitely be kind of interested,” said Secretary of NASA and junior Lorenzo Garcia. “If they offered classes it would definitely pique my interest.”
The time it takes to implement a Native language program, let alone a Muscogee (Creek) class, leaves students wondering if the class would be available in time to complete their language requirement. Garcia, also a Native American hymnal singer and drummer, expresses concerns that demonstrate the majority of students.
“It depends on what Native language it was,” said Garcia. “Me personally, I probably wouldn’t. Just for the fact that I’m about to graduate and I’m already taking more classes than I need at this point.”
Though there are several obstacles, the majority of faculty policy-makers, students and the general public agree that a Native language course at Texas State would benefit everybody for different reasons. William Harjo, a card-carrying member of the Muscogee (Creek) nation and a self-proclaimed ‘100%’ Native American sees the benefit of such language programs for his own children, grandchildren and the future of the language.
“My youngest one is picking it up, studying it and trying to teach it to his son, my grandson,” said Harjo. “I think it would be beneficial because they already have it, not only in OU, but they have them in other colleges in Oklahoma. I would like them to be able to speak the language.”
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