Lawton, OK – Lawton Public Schools (LPS) is adding to their growing world language curriculum with the addition of the Kiowa Language I course. The course has been in the works for the past few years and LPS Indian Education Liaison Raylisha York-Stanley shared that it took a big group to get this accomplished.
“LPS Superintendent, Kevin Hime, Vice Chairman of the Kiowa Tribe, Jacob Tsotigh, and Assistant Executive Director of the Kiowa Education Agency, Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule were all absolutely vital in making this possible,” Stanley said. “We hope to continue to make this program grow by adding Kiowa Language II in the near future.”
The course will be held at the Life Ready Center and taught by Carlo Chalepah. Students enrolled in the course will receive a World Language credit upon completion.
“We worked hard to find a certified teacher with state and tribe credentials,” Stanley said. “This was important to both entities.”
Two of the people involved in getting this course set in motion are very pleased with the opportunity to share the Kiowa culture with LPS students. Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule, Assistant Executive Director of The Kiowa Education Agency/Higher Education and former professor of beginning Kiowa Language at the University of Oklahoma, and Kiowa Tribe Vice Chairman Jacob Tsotigh both shared their thoughts on the partnership.
“Kiowa Language Learning is paramount in the vision we have for our Kiowa Education Agency,” said Dr. Tsatoke-Mule. “We want to support language teachers in opportunities within existing school systems because they teach, facilitate, and support students so learning continues. We also promote native language learning among our youth and children because we know learning is not only important for academic standards but for self-awareness, personal development, as well as social and emotional wellness. We are grateful for Lawton Public Schools, Raylisha York-Stanley, Indian Education Director, and our tribal leadership for their visionary planning to secure Kiowa Language learning for generations to come.”
“The Kiowa Tribe is grateful for this new partnership with Lawton Public Schools which will provide students the opportunity to learn their Native language after generations of neglect and loss,” added Tsotigh. “We welcome this commitment towards language revitalization that will allow students to embrace who they are and grow in an atmosphere of positive change. We thank the Board of Education for this bold step towards inclusion and celebration of our Native community! Aho!”
The course, like many other world languages taught in the district, will introduce students to many parts of the Kiowa culture in addition to learning how to speak the historic language. Marilyn Bread, a respected Kiowa elder and educator, is overjoyed that the new generation is getting the opportunity to learn [Gáui[dòñ:gyà, which is the word for Kiowa Language in the native language; Kiowa is a tonal language that includes many subtle characteristics and slight variation in pronunciation changes word meaning.
“What immediately comes to my mind is my sister’s Kiowa name that translates ‘A Dream Come True’,” said Bread after hearing the news that Kiowa Language I will be taught at LPS. “Students today are getting an opportunity that past generations of students did not get. In our parents’ and grandparents’ day, they were fluent Kiowa speakers, but they spoke ‘broken English’. Today, we speak ‘broken Kiowa’, so I support [Gáui[dòñ:gyà being taught in Lawton Public Schools, especially sharing it through our rich history and culture.”
LPS high school students who are interested in taking the new course can visit with their school counselor.