Language Immersion
Keeping the Gifts of our Ancestors
Our indigenous ancestors once spoke more than 300 different languages across this vast continent. More than half of those languages are gone forever. Of those that have survived, all are endangered—in fact, many of our native languages have only a few dozen fluent speakers still alive. These diverse languages are gifts from our ancestors, infused with the power of ancestral domain and the experiences, insights, and traditions of our forebears. Guardian Saga is fighting to preserve these gifts through our Guardian Art Language Immersion Program.
Collaborating with tribal elders
By working closely with each community’s tribal elders and native speakers, we build programs that combine the physical, cultural, and mental elements of Guardian Art training with immersion in the ancestral language of that territory. We begin with teaching the basic commands and power positions in that language, and then integrating more words and phrases as we build on those fundamental skills. By combining repetition, action, and memory we’re using the whole body and mind to engage with the language.
The power of language
By living and practicing our indigenous languages, youth harness the power of their heritage and it becomes a part of them. Using the whole body, engaging the mind, and incorporating cultural viewpoints allow youth to connect with language in ways that go far beyond the classroom. Kids don’t learn lists of vocabulary words, they learn the meaning and power of those words in physical action. This makes learning their ancestral language more relevant, more engaging, and simply more fun.
Our dream for the future
At Guardian Saga, our dream goes beyond trying to preserve our ancient languages, traditions, and teachings for posterity. We are working to create a new generation of guardians: young people that can use these gifts of our heritage to become thoughtful leaders that think and act for all human beings and for the nurturement of our earth. We are equipping these youth to become guardians of our future.