Me-Wuk Language Program
The Me-Wuk Language Program consists of:
- Teaching the language to the youth in the after-school program at the Chewewe: Kocha (Blue House) through lessons, interactive languages, games and songs.
- Teaching the language to the Education and Recreation Department staff (Me-Wuk Language Program Management Team) and adults through lessons, interactive language and games.
- Teaching the language to other Me-Wuk tribes and helping them develop their beginning language programs.
- Doing cultural presentations and demonstrations in the Me-Wuk language, and including the language in Tuolumne County elementary and high schools.
- Doing cultural presentations including the language at the Shadow of the Me-Wuk Trail in Pinecrest, California, at the Summit Ranger District for the U.S. Forest Service.
- Doing cultural presentations with the language for summer youth camps.
- Presenting a three-day, immersive Me-Wuk Language Symposium to provide hands-on lessons, inspirational speakers, education and networking for Me-Wuk communities.
- Creating a cultural language archive for audio, video and Me-Wuk language documents for research.
Me-Wuk Language Program Staff
Carlos Geisdorff
Me-Wuk Language Program Manager
Carlos lives on the Tuolumne Rancheria and is a voting member of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians. Carlos holds an American Indian Language Credential, and teaches the language to children and adults. He has attended Breath of Life conferences in Berkeley; Language is Life conferences at Marin Headlands, Davis and Wonder Valley; Living Language Circle sponsored by Yoche Dehe Wintun Nation; and many other language conferences throughout the state. He is a member of the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Language Preservation Committee. As a child, he learned traditional songs and dances with some language from a Me-Wuk Elder.
Sonja Delgadillo
Me-Wuk Language Program Administrative Assistant
Sonja has been the Me-Wuk Language Program’s Administrative Assistant since 2017, and is an enrolled Tribal member. Since 2014, she has worked for the Tribe in various departments: Recreation Department, THE HOTEL at Black Oak Casino Resort, and Temporary Assistance for Native Families (TANF). Sonja actively participates in Tribal events, cultural gatherings and traditional Me-Wuk dancing, and is also learning Me-Wuk basket weaving. She continues to be a student in Me-Wuk language classes, and has attended several conferences and training, including Language is Life, Living Language Circle, and many other California Native language conferences throughout the state.