Words as Big as the Screen: Native American Languages and the Internet

It is ironic that technological advances have not only aided in the loss of our languages but at the same time have made it possible for us Native people to use technology in a way to promote and educate others about our unique culture and language. I hope we continue to use the internet as a tool to maintain and keep our languages. I would say now would be the best time to use technology to record our languages, therefore we need specialists such as the students in the SLATE program to do this. From students presentations, I have noticed so much talent that could be applied toward creating curriculum in Yup'ik and for the Yup'ik people. Reading page 108 titled Outnumbered and Out-Typed: Natives Online made me furious. There are so many people who jump at the prospects of making a dime out of Native people. They use Native people in television commercials and on web-sites to promote their business when in fact they don't know much about Native people. I am beginning to see it all the time. I continue to hope that our Native people will work toward becoming educated and self sufficient in the 21st century, especially in the ever expanding field of technology. That way, we can use technology as an advantage for our people to strengthen our language and culture. In my school, we are lucky we have a computer lab. On the other hand, it also saddens me that because my community is economically disadvantaged, many people don't have access to internet. The internet is a powerful thing and it is sad that many of our people don't have access to this learning tool.