Reader Responses to A Language, Liberated

I enjoyed reading Jack Brook’s piece on the resurrection of the Wampanoag language (“A Language Liberated,” September/October). I first became acquainted with Greendeer’s efforts 20 or so years ago. My wife and I, on a whim, visited the Mashpee Indian Museum and enjoyed a long talk with the museum’s curator. Among other things, she alerted us to Greendeer’s work, which was beginning at the time. A painting hanging on one wall of the museum depicted a white male missionary preaching to a group of Native people. The curator told us that the missionary was Richard Bourne, who among other things he helped the tribe gain permanent title to the small patch of land that tribe members still occupy. These Bournes are my early ancestors, so my interest in the Mashpee tribe and the Wampanoag Nation and their language comes naturally. 

I am a Wampanoag Elder and I have a special place in my mind and heart for our language, and although I’m up in years I try to learn as much as I can. In reading this piece, several times it brought me to tears—tears of sadness and tears of joy. We have had and still have struggles as a people, but we also had and still have victories that no man can take away. Kutaputush Manut (thank you Creator) for giving us these people who have made the sacrifices and have been willing to push on to these victories, as our children revive our language, and as we Elders grab tightly hold of what we can of the language and never let it go again.

Nitana was a dance student of mine many, many, years ago. I am so amazed at what she has accomplished—such important work (“A Language, Liberated,” Sept./Oct. ’20). Congratulations to the difference she is making in our world.