Lost in Time: support from Florida

With the number of Native American students enrolling at Texas State growing each semester and the presence of Native Americans on campus becoming more prominent, others have noticed a need for a Native language program. Dan Penton holds the position of Traditional Chief and Heleshayv, or medicine maker, of the Eastern Creek Tribe of Florida. As part of his duties, he works to perpetuate the traditional practices of his tribe, including language.
“Language is the most important thing to maintain when you have so few speakers,” said Penton. “There are damn few and it takes quite a few people to maintain a valid language. The Navajo were lucky in that sense. The government subsidization of the Navajo language during World War II helped the language survive.”
According to Penton, there are less than 1,000 fluent speakers of the Creek language and less than 5,000 that speak any form of it.
“We are committed to making available opportunities the ability to learn the language,” added Penton. “As long as there are speakers of the language, then it stays alive.”
Additionally, Penton believes that the Native language program at Texas State would benefit both his own tribe as well as the university’s wellbeing.
“I think having a well respected and acknowledged Native American linguistic program and language offered in the curriculum increases your reputation in the university field,” said Penton. “To have something that goes elsewhere than the romance language is looked upon in the academic community as being serious and scholarly.”