Discover the Art of Remembering with Jesse Bruchac with this incredible FREE workshop series!
Ready to take an adventure through language, nature, and music? This hands-on, fun-filled workshop series is your chance to dive into the world of the Eastern Algonquian languages, while learning how they connect us to the land, plants, and animals around us. This series invites everyone to jump in and explore the beauty of the still-spoken languages, while learning creative ways to keep them alive for future generations.
Picture yourself wandering through the fields, learning to spot and name native trees and plants in a language that’s been spoken for generations. But that’s just the start! In each workshop, we’ll also bring these words to life with songs and music that make you feel like you’re part of the natural world. Whether you’re singing, naming a tree, or sharing stories, each session is about rediscovering a connection with nature that’s always been there, waiting for you to tap into it.
We’ll be using fun techniques like gamification and songification to make sure what you learn sticks, because preserving these endangered languages means finding new ways to remember and share them. We’ll sing, play, and discover together, using the tools of remembrance like storytelling, music, and activities that make language learning feel natural and fun.
And it’s not just about words - it’s about stories! These languages are more than just how we speak - they’re how we listen, how we remember history, and how we understand the world around us. Think of the languages as a vehicle, taking us on a journey through time, connecting us to the land and to each other.
This workshop is for everyone, no matter your age or experience. Bring your kids, your grandparents, or just yourself - everyone will find something to love in this hands-on, story-filled adventure. Together, we’ll use music, games, and nature as our guide to not only learn, but remember how important these languages are in shaping our world.
So come along, have some fun, and be part of something bigger. Help us keep these beautiful languages thriving, all while connecting with nature and each other. You’ll leave with new skills, cool songs to share, and a deeper understanding of how language, culture, and nature are all part of the same beautiful circle
About Jesse Bruchac: For three decades Jesse has been immersed in Algonquian language reclamation efforts. He is the founder and director of the School of Abenaki at Middlebury College and the Assistant Director of the Ndakinna Education Center. He first gained fluency in the Eastern Algonquian Abenaki language – learning it directly from the last generation of first language speakers in the 1990s. He has since worked in language reclamation efforts with several other Eastern Algonquian languages, including Penobscot, Lenni Lenape, Delaware (Munsee and Unami), Mohican (Mahican), Mohegan-Pequot, and Quiripi-Unquachog. He is currently involved in the reawakening of previously dormant Virginia Algonquian languages.
http://jbruchac.com