A large group poses fpr the camera.
Photo by Christian Toews

During the September 20 graduation, 12 Language Apprentice Program graduates and 13 Second Language Interlocal High School Teachers Program graduates pose for a photo with Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., members of the tribal council, and officials from the School of Choctaw Language.

Chahta Anumpa Aiikhvna celebrates graduates from two of its programs

Published December 3, 2024

The Choctaw Nation’s Chahta Anumpa Aiikhvna (School of Choctaw Language) celebrated 25 graduates from two programs on September 20.

The Language Apprentice program graduated 12 students, and the Second Language Interlocal High School Teachers program graduated 13.

These graduates are a large part of preserving the Choctaw language, culture and history for future generations.

Chief Gary Batton emphasized this idea during the graduation ceremony.

“Truly, this will keep our tribe alive…you are truly keeping the memory of our ancestors alive by doing what you are doing today by continuing to speak the language,” he said.

According to Anjanette Williston, the Language Department’s program director, the main objective is to preserve the language.

“My hopes are they (the graduates) will go and share that language…continue their learning as well but share their language with others,” said Williston. “The more we have out there who are knowledgeable or learning or have that desire to learn, the more we are going to keep our language alive.”

Completing the apprenticeship program is no easy task. It is 52 weeks long. During the course, students cover speaking, reading, and writing to become conversational Choctaw speakers.

One of the current highlights of this course is that students get direct instruction from a first speaker—someone who speaks Choctaw as their first language.

Williston is unsure how long the program will be able to offer instruction from a first speaker because of the dwindling number of first speakers available.

There are currently only nine first speakers working with the School of Choctaw Language, and Williston said one of their goals is to absorb as much information from them as possible before they retire.

“We’re here at the end, and it’s scary, it really is. When you stop and think about it, I mean, geez, we’re not going have that spoken language,” said Williston. “We’re losing those enunciations; we’re losing all of the knowledge that each of them had from birth on that they spoke their language with their parents.”

That is precisely why the school is designed to teach the language to the next generations.

The Second Language Interlocal High School Teachers program is another vital program at the school. This program focuses on certified teachers and allows them to become more fluent in the Choctaw language so that they can pass this knowledge on to high school students.

The School of Choctaw Language began teaching in high schools about 20 years ago. Today, the Choctaw language is taught in 48 high schools across the Choctaw reservation and surrounding areas. This program has been a vital pipeline for students to be exposed to the Choctaw language early and inspire them to continue learning it.

Another program offered by the School of Choctaw Language is the Language Nest program. This program centers around whole-family learning. A Choctaw language teacher meets with eight families weekly to teach and practice the language with them.

According to Williston, the program hopes to build collaboration and work together to learn.

“They are getting some togetherness. Hopefully, they will keep collaborating together,” said Williston. “So, as a whole community, they can build up the language and foster it for generations.”
Investment in this language program has continued to allow growth over the years, and the program’s future looks bright.

USDA Rural Utilities Services – Distance Learning and Telemedicine awarded a $261,687 grant for the purchase of distance learning equipment in Jones Academy and 19 southeast Oklahoma public schools that teach the Choctaw language. Each language lab will be updated with a video bar, a 65-inch display monitor, a mobile cart, and new Zoom Pro licenses.

Chief Gary Batton said in a recent Facebook Post that the Choctaw Nation has pledged to match this grant with $39,253.

“Together, we’re preserving and promoting the Choctaw language and culture for future generations,” he said.

The following schools are receiving upgrades: Achille, Atoka, Battiest, Buffalo Valley, Colbert, Hartshorne, Haworth, Kinta, Kiowa, McAlester, Mill Creek, Panama, Pocola, Poteau, Spiro, Stuart, Talihina, Whitesboro, Wilburton and Jones Academy for grades 1-12.

The School of Choctaw Language continues to grow and offer new and exciting ways to learn, whether you want to participate in an immersive program or learn at your own pace.
Resources on the Language website allow learners of all levels to grow.

From an online Choctaw dictionary, a catalog of Choctaw Hymns, daily lessons and even videos that guide you through different conversational scenarios.

There are two online courses offered on the website.

You can enjoy a self-paced Choctaw I or Choctaw II course.

These online classes allow you to learn the Choctaw language through comprehensive lessons, downloadable resources and audio clips at your own pace.