"The People of Iowa" Essay from The Goldfinch, September 1985

    Brief essay about the Meskwaki in The Goldfinch
    Courtesy of University of Iowa Library and Archives, "The People of Iowa," Digging into Prehistoric Iowa - The Goldfinch, pp. 20, Vol. 7, No. 1, September 1985

    Description

    The Meskwaki are of Algonquian origin from the prehistoric Woodland period culture area. The Meskwaki language is a dialect of the language spoken by the Sauk and Kickapoo, within the Algonquian languages family. The Meskwaki Language Preservation Program was established by Tribal Council resolution in 2009 as a program within the Meskwaki Historic Preservation Department. Eventually, because of the great importance placed on the tribal language by tribal membership, the program was established as its own department by Tribal Council resolution in June 2011. Now, the Meskwaki language is taught in school and offered to adults at evening classes.

    Transcription of "The People of Iowa" from The Goldfinch

    Source-Dependent Questions

    • Why is it important for the Meskwaki language to be taught to all Meskwaki people?
    • How are Meskwaki children taught the language?
    • After reading this article, watch this short video. What can be learned about the Meskwaki from both sources?

    Citation Information 

    "The People of Iowa," Digging into Prehistoric Iowa - The Goldfinch, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 20, September 1985. Courtesy of University of Iowa Library and Archives

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