Language Revitalized by Nintendo and Apps

(Written by Sanford LittleEagle – Staff Writer)

The first time I had got wind of or saw progress that the Language and Culture Division had been developing a Ho-Chunk Language platform for the Nintendo DS, and for the iPhone, was at the 2011 General Council.

An iPhone? Believe it or not, yes a Ho-Chunk language application for the iPhone; and for the Android phones as well.  I immediately signed up for the drawing and waited patiently all day for them to announce it over the air Live at General Council. No luck. They drew Gale White’s name instead. I thought to myself, “Oh well, it will be out for the rest of us some day.”

As you’re reading this article, the powers that be are discussing the North American release of Nintendo’s Blockbuster Game Hoocak Waaziija Haci. Okay well maybe Nintendo is not anticipating the release of the game, because it is not really a game. However it looks like a game cartridge, goes into a game console (DS), but in way it is sort of game, there is a game involved. A quiz, and by doing the quiz which shows a word in Hoocak, which then shows multiple pictures for you to choose the answer, you are learning and having fun at the same time. Information is retained well in this teaching method.

Toree Jones has been in works with her team at the Language Division to make learning the language fun and easy. With Apps, (short for Applications) for both smartphone platforms, the Android and the iPhone, the final stages of completion are expected to be in early 2012. A tribal member will be able to download versions from iTunes and maybe even linked off of the www.ho-chunknation.com site; with technological advances, the options will be limitless.

There are many rumors on how and when the cartridge will be available for release, but right now there is no date scheduled. But we do know the cartridge is pricy, compared to popular games like Kirby Mass Attack or Mario Kart where the games are priced $25 – $50; the Hoocak Language cartridge will be higher than that price.

Recent talks with Language speakers have made mention that they are happy this medium is available as a learning tool. So we will see. Now we all know what game system to get the little ones for Christmas. Gale, looks like I will get my own.