Content about Osage Language

The National Indian Education Association is honoring the Osage Nation Language Department for its Osage language teaching and preservation efforts.

The ON Language Department is a recipient of the William Demmert Cultural Freedom Award for their efforts to preserve and revitalize the Osage language among Osages of all ages.

“It is something positive for the department and it’s encouraging that we are being recognized,” said Herman “Mogri” Lookout, director of the Osage Nation Language Department.

Lunch with Language is held every Tuesday from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. at the Osage Nation Language Department's main office in Pawhuska.

The class is held for Osage Nation employees but is also open to the public. Lunch with Language is geared toward those who don't have time outside of work or free time during regular night classes to learn the Osage Language.

My childhood memory retains many images of Old Men and Women, dressed Osage. In my memory there are Old Men speaking to The People in our unique and ancient language of Osage.  I remember how sometimes those Old Men would move their Eagle Fans in order to bring life to a thought they were expressing. There were times when they did not hold a fan. During those times they were simply wearing a blanket, it did not matter, they were something to see and to hear.

Ardina Moore says she and her fellow Quapaw people are pleased with the tribe’s Las Vegas Strip-style casino resort but there are more important things the people must consider: their tribe’s first language, for example.

“We are proud of this casino, but to me, our language and culture are more important,” Moore said during the Dhegiha Gathering language conference held at Downstream Casino Resort.

The Osage Nation Language Department recognized participants who attended the inaugural “Lunch with Language” course this spring during the final class meeting on May 11.

The Lunch with Language course targets students, especially government employees, who may not be able to attend weeknight language courses when they are typically held during fall and spring sessions. This past session’s courses were held Wednesdays during the noon lunch hour.

[Editor's Note: This story was modified on Aug. 30 for clarification purposes.]

 It’s that time of year again. Young Osages marched to the front doors of the Osage Nation Head Start today, some arriving for their first time, others attending their second year.