Parenting in the Muscogee Language
In Honor of National Foster Care Month
Verified News Network (VNN) Founders Kelly Tidwell (Muscogee and Cherokee) and Brittany Harlow foster through Muscogee Creek Nation Foster Care and Adoption.
A recent foster care event included basic instruction of the Muscogee language. When asked what the best way was to learn and speak Muscogee, representatives from the Mvskoke Language Program explained it is through repetition in daily life.
Brittany took the pair’s 5-year-old son to Mvskoke Language Program headquarters to identify the most common phrases parents use and translate them into Mvskoke, pledging to make the Muscogee language part of their every day with both their biological child and foster children.
Here are the 10 common phrases they came up with!
Fekhonnvs | Stop (Moving) LISTEN TO Fekhonnvs
Wikvs | Stop (Doing something) LISTEN TO Wikvs
Etepoyekot | Don’t fight LISTEN TO Etepoyekot
Centakepv | Are you ready? LISTEN TO Centakepv
Celvwe te? | Are you hungry? LISTEN TO Celvwe te?
Cewvnhke te? | Are you thirsty? LISTEN TO Cewvnhke te?
Lvpecicvs | Hurry up LISTEN TO Lvpecicvs
Svhocickv stelepikv (vtehvs) | Socks shoes (put on) LISTEN TO Svhocickv stelepikv (vtehvs)
Nvfkekot | Don’t hit LISTEN TO Nvfkekot
Ecenokeci tos | I love you LISTEN TO Ecenokeci tos
Thank you to Muscogee Language Revitalization Project Manager Elizabeth “Eli” Rowland-Chang (Muscogee) for translating and recording the pronunciation of these phrases.
And thank you to VNN Journalist and Graphic Designer Trista Vaughn (United Keetoowah Band, Hualapai, and Chickasaw) for designing the graphic component.
Link to the Mvskoke Language Website.
Did you know? As of May 2024, there are currently 360 Muscogee children in the foster care system and only 49 Muscogee Nation resource homes available.
Muscogee Nation is always searching for people who want to nurture a child in need of love.
Certified Resource Applicants must be:
At least 21 years old
Able to pass a background check
Living in the State of Oklahoma
In overall good health
At least 1 applicant must be a member of a federally recognized tribe
Financially independent and self-sufficient
Be willing to nurture and protect children
If you meet these requirements, please consider getting certified today! Call 918-732-7869 to get started.
Don’t meet these requirements but still want to help?
If you know a foster parent, consider becoming an approved respite home for them!
A respite home for foster parents is a temporary care arrangement designed to provide short-term relief to foster parents. This offers foster parents the opportunity to take a break from their caregiving responsibilities, allowing them to rest, recharge, and attend to personal matters.
Respite care is essential for maintaining the well-being and sustainability of the foster care system.
It helps prevent burnout among foster parents, ensures continuity of care for foster children, and enhances the overall stability of placements.
Informal caregivers and alternative caregivers can also help with this.
Approved informal caregivers may watch children for up to 12 hours in the certified foster parent’s home. They are not allowed to transport children in any vehicles.
Approved alternative caregivers are allowed to transport children in vehicles and can watch foster children for up to five days.
Thank you to foster parents, respite providers, and caregivers for supporting and providing much needed love to these precious children.
Link to Presidential Proclamation of National Foster Care Month, 2024
