Don Addison Photo by Larry Johnson

The Shoshone Language

Arlie Neskahi:
Welcome back to Wisdom of the Elders.

Don Addison:
Halito ! I'm Don Addision and this is Speaking Native.

Yakima is one of the northwestern dialects of the Sahaptian language family. Some Yakama elders believe that the language should not be written anywhere until the afterlife. That has made it difficult to teach and created conflict over their language programs. “pee2-naa3-weet1” means “this is the indian way” And expression which resonates with the Yakima people to the present day. “ pee2-naa3-weet1 .”

Until next time, yakoke !