It’s not true mental illness (and being mentally ill doesn’t mean you want to shoot people, such a bullshit scapegoat) but there’s really something... off about these anti-government, live off the grid types. I am completely unsurprised by all of this information. Nothing good ever comes from strange white men who…

In my opinion, hearing is overrated. It’s a communication issue, not an intelligence issue. Don’t feel bad for people with hearing loss. We sure as hell don’t and we see the advantages; especially in situations like a baby crying on a 6 hour flight. Makes us laugh actually; more than you can imagine!

Oh wow she was 90! Older than I remembered. Amazing

Look around the world and at countries with free speech versus countries without and then tell me again how someone’s words make you feel unsafe.

Thank you so much for both the critical work that you do, and for the informative links; as well as responding to us, here. If Jia Tolentino reads the comment sections, perhaps she might somehow add these links to the piece for future reference.

Marie is an inspiration to many. In addition to her classes at the community center mentioned at the end, she and another daughter are in a master-apprentice program through the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival, and Donovan was also in the program with her. I’m affiliated with AICLS and the center…

Here in North America these languages are not dying out through magical mystical natural change - it’s been the result of centuries of relentless genocide and government policy. There have been generations of Indian kids taken to boarding schools and severely punished for using an Indian language. A lot of those…

Same! We’re not so well-organized as to be able to offer language immersion camps or a language immersion school, but the classes are online and in-person, and some public schools have started offering Chahta, Mvskoke, and Pawnee (but like, only one of those three at each school).

Article about a interesting immersion program in Vancity for Squamish Nation youth.

Our family lost our language with my granddad, but we’re trying to learn with my nephew, who takes language classes. It’s so hard to learn the pronunciations without formal lessons though!

Democratic Europe is so much better than we are in this respect. Gaelic is now taught in schools; Langue d’Oc has resurged of late, and there are many programs to teach the young. After the Franco dictatorship: Catalan, Gallego, Asturiano, and so many others became a point of pride; Italy has innumerable dialects…

There are quite a number of schools in Canada that are teaching young First Nations students their traditional languages. The loss of traditional language is just one aspect of aboriginal culture that have been impacted by the cultural genocide practises of the last 400 years. Way to go Marie, total badass.

My late brother was the first great grandchild my great grandmother ever conversed with in our Tribe language. My siblings and I have been studying it so we don’t lose it and my nieces and nephews are really loving having a “code language”. Endangered Language fund is a really good one to donate to.

You’re welcome. Here are some organizations you can donate to.

There are a lot of local programs. My tribe does a lot to save our language. I have to look and see if there are programs people can donate to.

My tribe has been doing a lot to preserve our Menominee language. We teach it at my school which is a Native language and culture school. We even have a certification program that a number of people have gone through. There is a program to teach ten people to become teachers so they can create classrooms where the…

I love the dynamic between mother and daughter. It’s such a perfect blend of respect and affection. And watching her with her grandson was especially touching. It seems like it’s been such hard work, but truly a labor of love.

This is amazing. If anyone is interested in similar issues, this book was written by one of my grad professors.

(Read to the end) I’m currently 31 and a year into so-far unsuccessful colon cancer treatment. I actually start low-dose chemo and radiation in approximately 9 hours and have to go to work afterwords. I went through seven rounds of some pretty damn heavy duty chemo earlier in the year, and had to work through it all,…