Comanche Camp, 1873
A little more than a century ago, the Comanche ruled the Great Plains. Now, The Guardian reports, the 14,000 strong tribe is one of several Indian tribes making desperate bids to preserve their language. The Comanche Language and Cultural Preservation Committee has created a dictionary, holds language courses and has even offered financial incentives for parents to teach their kids Comanche. Perhaps only 100 native speakers survive, and none of them are under 60. One woman wept as she described how her grandmother failed to pass on the language because her school teachers beat her for using it. "The first English words she learned were 'Yes, Ma'am'," the woman said.
The Gaurdian story here.
