Chemehuevi Indian Tribe
17-10-2025
Hybrid modality (United States of America)
In honor of the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage, student partners, linguists, documenters, and volunteers working with the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe proudly present a seminar and panel showcasing collaborative efforts to preserve and revitalize the Chemehuevi language, a vital element of cultural heritage. Led by three keynote speakers, the event will highlight a multidisciplinary presentation approach.
Our first presenter, Philip Park, a senior at Northwood High School in Irvine, CA, has been working closely in person and online with the Chemehuevi community for over three and a half years. As the most active intern and documentation partner, he will present his work in recording, transcribing, and annotating Chemehuevi oral histories and lexical materials, as well as his work engaging high school students in language volunteering. Philip will also present his work on Langwatch.org, an online platform that won Apple’s Swift Student Challenge that monitors endangered languages throughout the world using the berlin- ELAR database, as well as University of Hawaii Manoa’s ELCat database.
Our second presenter, and the most esteemed among the panel, phonology researcher Dr. Gloria will share critical insights into her fieldwork documenting Chemehuevi oral traditions. Drawing on recordings she conducted with elder storytellers between 2017 and 2022, Dr. Gloria will walk participants through the challenges of phonetic transcription in a language with rare consonant clusters and vowel length distinctions that are often lost in casual speech.
Our final presenter, Samuel Martinez, will discuss a series of immersive workshops he led in 2021 and 2022 that integrated spoken language practice with cultural narratives drawn from regional folklore. These workshops paired everyday conversation drills with storytelling sessions, allowing youth participants to learn grammar and vocabulary in the context of myths, migration histories, and agricultural traditions. Martinez will highlight outcomes such as the creation of a community-compiled audio archive and a pilot curriculum for after-school programs, both of which strengthened intergenerational knowledge transfer.
There will also be an opportunity to connect with community leaders and language experts in a five-hour long panel, where participants will revisit projects such as the 2019 Nahuatl Storytelling Initiative.
With this event, we hope to reflect the power of combining technology, education, and cultural stewardship to support Indigenous language vitality. It invites community members, scholars, and interested participants to engage and contribute to this transformative initiative.
All interested in Indigenous language and culture are encouraged to attend!
Programme
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Youth Outreach & Digital Engagement
Philip Park (Documentation Partner of Chemehuevi Indian Tribe): High school outreach, platform demo
Phonetic Documentation & Oral Histories
Dr. Gloria (Researcher/Linguist, Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of Havasu): Technical and cultural practice
Community Workshops & Storytelling
Sammy Martinez (Chemehuevi Tribe General Volunteering): Youth-led documentation and annotation
Panel Discussion & Q&A
Closing Remarks
Practical information
Format: Hybrid modality (via Zoom)
Registration: Please use the following Zoom link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88158214680?pwd=qOdj1OhUUwkJknnADU2V0NbKfOWbEX.1
Please email lead speaker Philip Park ([email protected]) for more information.
Please email event organizer Sammy Martinez ([email protected]) for information on event partnerships.
Text as provided by the organiser(s).
