Preserving Culture Through Craft: Corn Husk Dollmaking Class Series

The Quapaw Language Department is hosting a Corn Husk Dollmaking Class Series this November, offering families the opportunity to learn a traditional art form while engaging with the Quapaw language. The three-part class will take place on November 5, 12, and 19 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Robert Whitebird Cultural Center in Quapaw, Oklahoma.

This series is designed to bring generations together through creativity, language, and tradition. Participants will learn how to make traditional corn husk dolls while incorporating the Okáxpa language throughout the process. The final class encourages families to work together to complete a doll, blending craftsmanship with cultural storytelling.

Language preservation plays a crucial role in maintaining a community’s identity, values, and history. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Indigenous languages are “gateways to worlds of cultural diversity,” helping communities preserve their relationship with the land, history, and ancestral knowledge (UNESCO, 2023).

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) notes that preserving Native languages is vital for protecting cultural diversity and heritage. When a language fades, so too does a community’s sense of identity and connection to its past (NCAI, 2022).

Research supported by the Institute of Education Sciences (U.S.) shows that sustaining and learning Native languages benefits not only cultural preservation but also cognitive and linguistic development. Supporting native language learning can strengthen English language acquisition while sustaining tribal heritage and pride (IES, 2023).

A study published in the National Library of Medicine (NIH) further reinforces that Indigenous languages preserve complex knowledge systems, including teachings embedded in cultural, spiritual, and ecological practices (PMC, 2018). These findings highlight the impact that community-based language programs can have in ensuring continuity and resilience.

Classes like this Corn Husk Dollmaking Series serve as a bridge between generations, keeping traditions alive through shared learning experiences. By connecting language with hands-on creative activities, participants help ensure that the Okáxpa language remains active, spoken, and meaningful for years to come.

Space for the class is limited to 20 adults and their children. Registration closes Monday, November 3, and participants can sign up online at https://okika.quapawnation.com/Forms/language_class_enrollment.

For more information, contact the Quapaw Language Department at language.department@quapawnation.com.

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References

1. UNESCO. (2023). Indigenous languages: gateways to worlds of cultural diversity. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/cutting-edge-indigenous-languages-gateways-worlds-cultural-diversity

2. National Congress of American Indians. (2022). Beyond Words: The Power of Native Language Revitalization. https://www.ncai.org/news/beyond-words-the-power-of-native-language-revitalization

3. Institute of Education Sciences. (2023). Walking in Both Worlds: How Native Language Preservation Benefits Native American English Learners. https://ies.ed.gov/learn/blog/walking-both-worlds-how-native-language-preservation-benefits-native-american-english-learners

4. The Indigenous Foundation. (2021). Why is Preserving Indigenous Languages Important? https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/why-is-preserving-indigenous-languages-important

5. McIvor, O. (2018). The Role of Indigenous Languages in Cultural, Spiritual, and Knowledge Transmission. National Library of Medicine (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5959053/