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Passamaquoddy Language Reclamation TFL Report Page
3 April 17, 2001 Discussion
This was a very strong day, with some rough spots. We started 30 minutes latepeople wandering in -- also down to 12 participants. The ones who didn't come back mentioned yesterday that they probably would be unable to return, including the only man. The group had a very, very hard time doing clap exchange. It was impossible to even send a clap around the circle and have it be in a steady rhythm. This is really unusual in my experience. We talked about this at lunch and some think it has to do with the community having lost its connection to listening with their ears -- lots of talk about how people listen visually -- always checking things out by the expression on people's faces, body language etc. not being able to trust what people say. What does this mean to reclaiming Passamaquoddy as a language? The Groups of 4 images continued to be very strong. In one of them there was a woman pointing at, berating a woman who was on the floor, looking ashamed. Behind the pointing woman was another character, spurring her on. Everyone in the room (except 2 people) joined the woman on the floor. When we activated this the shame, anger, self-loathing over not being able to speak the language started to pour out. On further activation, we went into an improvisation that led to a discovery that one of the characters who is trying to force the woman on the floor to speak Passamaquoddy, feels oppressed herself, although many of the others in the room see her as an oppressor. The Magnetic Image exercise has so far led to two strong Images. We have one more to look at tomorrow. In one, two people are forcing their feet onto the back of another, who is folding into the floor, but also fighting back. Under her is someone trying to hold her up and also, at the same time, protect a flower from being trampled. This was a beautifully symbolic Image that also led to lots of tears. It was a very emotional day. The images have shed light on the oppression that the very people who are trying to save the language are inadvertently creating in the community. There is a great urgency and because of this the pressure that they are exerting is tremendous. Many people also talked about seeing through the images that "talk is easy" and that it is time to stop talking and take action. Also, in the final circle, lots of tears about parents, grandparents..ways to forgive them for their decisions not to teach the language.the only way to "make it" was to learn English, to the exclusion of Passamaquoddy. We are going to make the plays
tomorrow afternoon. I feel like there is potentially enough material
and it would be great to have an extra day of rehearsal. The
more confident the cast feel with their characters the better
they will be able to handle the Forum.
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