Joe Amon, The Denver Post6-year-old Dreamer Bravehawk has the mattress all to her self as she bounces in her grandfathers back yard in Ethete, Wyo. on the Wind River reservation April 9, 2017.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostMarlin Spoonhunter, (2nd from right) president of the Wind River Tribal College, walks with Carrie White Antelope, (right) Family service manager of the Ethete Head Start, and pre-schoolers from the Ethete Head Start program during an honor walk for the Week of the Young Child on the Blue Sky Highway in the Wind River Indian Reservation April 10, 2017 in Ethete, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostMary Headley, "Neiwoo" or grandma to the pre-school children she teaches in the Arapaho Immersion school, leads the children in the Flag Song in the Arapaho language to start class every morning Feb. 28, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostWendall Moss (top) takes a lead during the Young Falcons drum group practice at the Arapahoe School's 21st Century Community Learning Center during the after school learning program Feb. 27, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo. Students learn the Arapaho language, culture, history and traditions of the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River reservation.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostMary Headley, "Neiwoo" or grandma to the pre-school children she teaches in the Arapaho Immersion school, Feb. 27, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo. The kids hear nothing but the Arapaho language during class as the tribe works to recover their culture and language on the Wind River reservation.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostEugene Ridgley, language, culture and art teacher uses a (TPR) total physical response technique, giving commands in Arapaho to his middle school class, "get on the floor, get up from the floor," at St. Stephens Indian School in St. Stephens, Wyo. March 1, 2017.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostLucy Willow, age 94 is the oldest member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and a revered educator with the 21st Century Community Learning Center. She teaches at the Arapahoe School's after school learning program. Students learn the Arapaho language, culture, history and traditions of the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River reservation Feb. 27, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostElder Lydia Jenkins, 87, talks with cultural advocate Cheri LeBeau about a difference in the number 8 during culture class at the Arapaho Charter High School. Jenkins agreed the use is better now because it follows a pattern. The fluent speaking elders of the tribe attend classes and the after school learning program and are instrumental in the recovery of the Arapaho language, culture, history and traditions of the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River reservation March 1, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostInspiration as well as information on a press board at the Wind River Tribal College on the Wind River Indian Reservation April 10, 2017 in Ethete, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostThe Sacajawea Cemetery in Fort Washakie, Wyo. on the Wind River reservation April 10, 2017.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostVernissa Jorgenson, 44, checks the laundry drying on the porch of her home in Ethete, Wyo. on the Wind River reservation April 9, 2017. "I speak a few words," she said "but, haven't really learned the language." Her children have the language and culture classes in school.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostJeremy Lakey, 12, working to jump his skateboard in front of his home in Ethete, Wyo. on the Wind River Indian Reservation April 9, 2017. Jeremy is learning the Arapaho language during classes at the Wyoming Indian School in Ethete.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post11-year-old Lailah Blackburn carefully removes her regalia at the 21st Century Community Learning Center after a performance of the Native American Dance Society for parents and friends at the Arapahoe School Feb. 28, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo. Students that are part of the after school learning program learn the Arapaho language, culture, history and traditions of the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River reservation.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostThe Young Falcons drum group sings at the 21st Century Community Learning Center for a performance of the Native American Dance Society for parents and friends at the Arapahoe School Feb. 28, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo. Students that are part of the after school learning program learn the Arapaho language, culture, history and traditions of the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River reservation.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post7-year-old Koah Antelope does a traditional style dance in full regalia at the 21st Century Community Learning Center during a performance of the Native American Dance Society for parents and friends at the school Feb. 28, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo. Students that are part of the after school learning program learn the Arapaho language, culture, history and traditions of the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River reservation.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post13 year old Alexis Hutchinson a 7th grader at Arapaho middle school and member of the Native American Dance Society practicing the Jingle Dress dance with her group n the Arapahoe School's 21st Century Community Learning Center after school learning program. Students learn the Arapaho language, culture, history and traditions of the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River reservation Feb. 27, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post9-year-old Quiana Piper (center) and her 3rd grade class study using their iPads and the Arapaho language app that has been created to help teach the language and culture at the Arapaho School in Arapahoe, Wyo. on the Wind River reservation March 1, 2017.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostElder Theresa Wells waits for the start of the Arapaho language class she teaches with Matlin Spoonhunter to Arapaho tribal members in Oklahoma at the Wind River Tribal College on the Wind River Indian Reservation April 10, 2017 in Ethete, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostChildren from the Ethete Head Start program thank the veterans who lead the honor walk for the Week of the Young Child on the Blue Sky Highway April 10, 2017 in Ethete, Wyo. Pictured are Norman Willow Jr. and his father Norman Willow Sr (right). Willow Jr. served as a Marine in Iraq and his father, a member of the Northern Arapaho Business Council, is an Viet Nam era Army veteran.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostA school bus drops off children in the foothills of the Wind River Indian Reservation April 10, 2017 near Ethete, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostByron Yellowbear sings a morning song learned from his grandfather as he tells stories from his grandparents of life and God including a story of despair from the cruelty of the soldiers to the Arapaho children and women in his home in Ethete, Wyo. on the Wind River Indian Reservation April 10, 2017.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostTeresa HisChase, 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinator at the Arapahoe School watches her son 10-year-old Jacob Gambler using "Off The Wall Arapahoe Language" to find names and explanations of kitchen items March 1, 2017 in Arapahoe, Wyo.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostTeresa HisChase, 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinator at the Arapahoe School holds her 1-week-old grand child Lei'Lani Little Fox Chavez at her home March 1, 2017 on the Wind River reservation. HisChase knows that speaking their language in the home will solidify it's use with the young people as they work to bring their language and culture back to the tribe on the Wind River reservation.
Joe Amon, The Denver PostAutumn Behan, 26, riding her uncle's hunting horse Savage home bareback in the late evening after he slipped away from the pasture about 8 miles outside Ethete, Wyo. on April 10, 2017.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
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6-year-old Dreamer Bravehawk has the mattress all to her self as she bounces in her grandfathers back yard in Ethete, Wyo. on the Wind River reservation April 9, 2017.
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By Joe Amon | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
In classrooms across Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation, teachers and tribal elders are working to infuse the Arapaho language into daily lessons and special programs to give the tribe’s children a deeper understanding of Arapaho culture, history and traditions.
For generations, the Arapaho tribe has been leaning into cultural headwinds to preserve a language on the brink of extinction. As English gained dominance in daily discourse, fluent Arapaho speakers dwindled to whatap now estimated to be perhaps a few dozen — most of those in their 70s — among the slightly more than 10,000 registered tribal members in Wyoming.
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