Language Keepers began in 2006 as an experimental project to document endangered languages, addressing a central dilemma in endangered language work: the decline and loss of public group discourse. When a language is no longer spoken in groups outside the family, it cannot be passed on or documented effectively. Language Keepers used an innovative approach combining descriptive linguistics, documentary video, and community outreach to encourage speaker groups to use their language while being filmed as they engaged in traditional and contemporary activities—for language learning and revitalization, cultural transmission, and dictionary development. The Peskotomuhkati-Wolastoqey Portal integrates the Language Keepers videos of Peskotomuhkati-Wolastoqey language and culture.
To advance Language Keepers as an evolving media-based methodology for language documentation and revival, Speaking Place was created in 2010 as a vehicle for promoting language revival work anywhere in the world.
During 14 years of documentation with Peskotomuhkati and Wolastoqey speakers in Maine and New Brunswick, Language Keepers filmed more than 100 hours of natural group conversation with 85 speakers. The data from the filming has contributed hundreds of new words to the dictionary, has stimulated language revival programs for people who understand the language but cannot speak it, and has identified new sources of resiliency and leadership in the speaking community.
Language Keepers was a project of the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities Documenting Endangered Languages Program. The fiscal sponsor and archive partner was Northeast Historic Film Archive, Bucksport, Maine. For copies of Language Keepers videos or documents, please contact Northeast Historic Film.
Peskotomuhkati Participants at Pleasant Point
| Nancy Airola Diane Apt Margaret Apt Joan Barnes Patricia "Teresa" Brown Linda Dana Gracie Davis Barbara Dore Fran Dore David A. Francis Deanna Francis Donald Francis Lorraine Francis Rebecca Francis Veronica Francis Lena Jackson Clara Keezer Kenny Keezer | Richard Keezer Mary Harriet Larkin Carlton Lewey Hilda Lewis Andrew Moore Marie Antoinette Moore Roland Newell Susan Newell Anthony Nicholas Lane Nicholas Clara Polches Frances Smith Madonna Soctomah Nancy Soctomah Jane Taylor Alice Tomah Joyce Tomah |
Peskotomuhkati Participants at Indian Township
| Victoria Boston Diane Campbell Roseanne Campbell Joan Dana Brenda Lozada Philip Newell Wayne Newell Roger Paul Clint Sabattis Allen Sockabasin Blanche Sockabasin | Clayton Sockabasin, Jr. David Sockabasin Raphael Sockabasin Jennifer Socobasin Aloysius "Dike" Sopiel George Stevens John Stevens Jane "Bessey" Tinker David J. Tomah Frank Tomah |
Wolastoqey Participants at Tobique First Nation
| Donald "Spike" Moulton Mary Moulton Raymond Nicholas Margaret Paul Imelda Perley |
Project Advisors
| Margaret Apt Joan Barnes Ed Bassett David A. Francis Hilda Lewis Wayne Newell Roger Paul Imelda Perley Donald Soctomah Alice Claire Tomah Frank Tomah |
Facilitators
| Margaret Apt Joan Barnes Deanna Francis Hilda Lewis Brenda Lozada Roland Newell Wayne Newell Roger Paul Allen Sockabasin Clayton Sockabasin, Jr. Imelda Perley Frank Tomah |
Transcribers and Translators
| Margaret Apt Joan Barnes Plansowes Dana Barbara Dore Robert Leavitt Brenda Dana Lozada Allen Sockabasin Alice Claire Tomah |
Production and Administration
| David Weiss — Principal Investigator Ben Levine — Project Director, Co-Principal Investigator Robert Leavitt — Co-Principal Investigator, Project Linguist Julia Schulz — Endangered Language Consultant Peggy Coreson and Barbara Manning — Project Administration Julia Schulz, Ryan Shepheard, Daniel Quintanilla — Editors |
| Video production: Ben Levine Video editing, post production, portal upload, and IT: Geoff Hancock, Ian Larson, Corey Norman, Heidi Ann Perkins, Daniel Quintanilla, Scott Francis Additional videography: Tom Francis, Richard Kane, Ian Larson, George Neptune, Scott Francis Production assistance: Barbara Dore, Deanna Francis, Frank Tomah Archival photos provided by Darel Gabriel Bridges and Donald Soctomah Still photography documentation: Ian Larson, Frances Tomah Fiscal Sponsor: Northeast Historic Film, Bucksport, Maine |