Survey objectives
Julene: Better understanding of how many members are familiar with the language. How many other languages are strong within the community. What types of lessons can be offered culturally or through language. (Because that helps plan the curriculum and “put the language out there”. It will be used to design new curricula; what makes people “stick” and “come” to the language). (We need it for council to know we are doing things).
Julene’s Population: Community members, non members who reside within the community, community, members who live out of the community boundaries. Door to door, email or mail, community functions. 14 years on up.
Julene’s Sample: Surveys on what types of curriculum is/is not working, what they would like to learn, activities done, other cultural activities.
Julene’s IRB considerations: Surveys aren’t normally done by departments within the community to the outside area, if a survey is conducted it would be through council and public relations. The tribal attorney is always involved when it comes to non tribal interactions. Interdepartmental or community surveys have to consist of all technicians, Language Coordinator, Cultural Director, Communications Office Manager, Council, Cultural Committee and elders.
Marilyn:The objectives for the survey I am creating is to focus on 3 things: Who speaks the Dine language? How did they learn the language? And What are their intentions with speaking the language? From this I want to discover the levels of fluency, and who [what family members ~ what community members ~ what were your major influences in learning the language] has influenced speaking and cultural literacy. The end objective once the data is collected and analyzed is to create a language program that will fit different levels of Dine speaking [are the “influencers” included in the language program?].
Marilyn’s Population: All voters and residents of the Navajo Nation 15 years on up who live in a Navajo household.
Marilyn’s Sample: Sample size based on NN website it 250,000. Based on other sources such as US Census, 102,000 and 219,000
Marilyn’s IRB considerations: Elderly,from senior citizens center, J. Peshlakai, community consultant, Community Land Use Planning Committee, LCR Vendors, NN & Cameron Culture and Preservation, Cameron Youth Project, Cameron Livestock Permittees, Farmers, local Navajo language teacher, Council Delegate, NN IRB rep [TP: do any of these have the power to give or deny permission to conduct a survey?] See U of A doc.
Pamela: To create a survey for the community to keep our language going, teach them our young ones. [WHAT: are they learning the language at school, are they speaking it with each other].Why? Now days our young children don’t speak our language.’[WHAT FOR: to determine the contents to be taught when she visits their houses]
Pamela’s Population: the community of our reservation half of them can vote,because some of them live outside of res. And the Population is about 15,750
Pamela’s Sample: d
Pamela’s IRB considerations: I don’t know, i don’t work with the higher position.
Cordella:To create a survey for the San Carlos Apache Reservation, to find out the percentage on where we are with our language loss. By determining the percentage we will be able to have a better understanding of how we can help our community[a] [help the community learn the language and learn what levels are people at… there are some people who understand but don’t speak, what’s up with that?] [WHY: because it appears the community is losing the language more and more]. [FOR WHAT? To start classes; to start a language class at the college, to manage resources for language planning]
Cordella’s Population: People, who are Apache tribal members [at least 1/4], who live in the Bylas and the San Carlos Communities. This number consists of everyone that is in the census.
(approx. 15,755 people). We have Male (0-17 yrs old) is the total of 2,254, Female (0-17 yrs old) is 2,188, Male (18-100 yrs old) is 5,374 and Female (18-100 yrs old) is 5,939.
Cordella’s Sample:
Cordella’s IRB Ethics: Anything that is being done concerning our people in the community, that will be allowed to be shared with anyone outside of the reservation has to go through our tribal attorney, therefore if we come up with a survey that will be used as a data for the tribe the tribal attorney general will be the one to read it and approve it. Once it passes the Tribal Attorney it then goes to our Tribal Councils for approval. Once they approve it we can finally pursue it.
Richard:: [WHAT? To formulate a survey to find out the interest and then also the fluency of language speakers that are on the Nation. This would take different stages and a combined effort.to find out how important language revitalization is to people; find out attitudes towards language immersion] [WHY? For language to continue to serve as a foundation for identity. People take the language for granted] [WHAT FOR? to promote immersion through legislation]. The objective is to revitalize the O’odham language[b], by taking a survey and having sufficient proof that it is important to the people. To have this foundation, maybe by voting on it and getting it passed through legislative. Then to start by looking at the state ordinance , then finding those immersion and in the process we could start with promoting emersion in K through 12 schools, With the understanding that this would be a start in keeping the culture alive and all that embodies it.
Richard’s population: all people on the nation 13 yrs. And older that can understand and are competent to what the survey is about.
Richard’s sample:
Richard’s IRB considerations: We would have to go through an IRB review with the ‘Nation’s Legislation, then connecting with Departments with same or like interests, then consulting with one another to write up a plan and figure out what would be our next step, this would involve people with prior experience, moving along in stages at the objective of how to continue with our plan. Like working on what question to ask, ways of priming, how to target
d
Christina: Assess community interest in language revitalization. support for heritage language education. Assess population and location of Unangax who want to learn Unangam Tunuu. Assess number of speakers and location of speakers within the community who might be resources for language revitalization (may require more than one survey). These survey inquiries will better serve an understanding of the Unangax^ population most interested in language revitalization, and help assist in the learning and teaching of Unangam Tunuu. [WHAT FOR: provide creative solutions to create language materials for insular communities] Christina’s Population: Those who currently identify as Aleut/Unangan/Unangas [alaska? The US? The planet?] The planet.
Christina’s Sample: 334 5%
Christina’s IRB considerations: Ethical considerations include anonymity--oral surveys may need to be conducted so permission must sought from individuals and community entities. Finding populations of interested community members is part of the information which is needed from surveys; however, if anonymous surveying is conducted tracking interested individuals or parties may be challenging. Ethics committees or IRB boards from different tribes may need to be consulted. How to store information after data collection might be a concern as is returning data to the communities if they so desire it. Giving credit or using synonyms may be appropriate if data are used for publications. Participants would have to be made aware of this possibility and retain the right to withdraw their contributions.
Some respondents may be under-age and therefore need parental oversight or permission, these individuals may also be considered a ‘vulnerable’ population(?).
Francina: to identify how much of the language is used and by whom. The interest in learning the language, identify speakers that can be used as resources. [how are they gonna be used as resources?]
Francina’s Population: The general population [of TO] including the youth conducted at all schools, elder/recreation centers, offices, gatherings, etc.
Francina’s Sample: population base is estimated at 32,400, sample will include 380 people at 5%.
Francina’s IRB considerations: all aspects of ethical considerations must be considered including cultural sensitivity. To begin a project at the college would include a collaboration of “experts” within the college, the Himdag (Culture) Committee, college research board, the president followed by a presentation to the college’s legislative oversight committee, discussions with subject communities/districts, Nation’s Chairman, etc. Finally followed by an approval/disapproval from the Nation’s IRB Board.
John:
I want to know if the people of Tulalip would like to include a Language requirement as part of electing the Board of Directors. To include this into the requirements would need those running for the position to pass fluency tests or equivalent to be able to run. I want to know this so to gauge community interest on such a proposal. Hopefully, this data will be used to draft a proposal to put before the Board of Directors to add another requirement to the selection process. Also, with the added bonus of speakers running for BOD, this will hopefully raise public interest to advance education of Lushootseed.
John’s Population:
Tulalip Tribal Members of voting age, those living on the Tulalip reservation.
John’s Sample:
4500 population, unknown male/female. 5% 351, 2% 1501, 1% 2821
John’s IRB considerations:
To consult with the Language department and quite possibly the Telecommunications department on ethical standpoint. To also inform the Board of Directors about the survey is important also. Communicating with the Tribal attorney is also important as to learn on how the tribe wants the information handled.
Kevan: To look at the attitudes native speakers have towards their language and to find out whether or not there is a desire for action towards language revitalization (i.e. is there a need to have language revitalization, and if there is, what needs do the people have, and what do they want to improve). Looking at both speakers, and non-speakers, the information collected in the survey will help in creating the required language material for language learners by determining the levels most needed. It will help in creating a language plan that we can follow to figure something out.
Kevan’s Population: Navajo population that lives on the reservation. 14 and up. High school and college level institution.
Kevan’s Sample: d
Kevan’s IRB considerations: High school administration (Principals and school district). Professors in Navajo language classes at community colleges and universities. Navajo chapter members. Navajo language com
mittee(s)? Navajo board of education?
[a]What are some specific actions you could take? Are those reflected in your questions?
[b]The survey cannot revitalize the language. It can measure the importance to the language to people, so that you could start with immersion [and what you already have :) ]