Edwin Benson: Video word post #11 of Mandan language

This story was filed on June 23, 2009

Dear Language Advocate:

Finally! I’ve had a bit of time to edit a short language video with Edwin Benson, the last man alive born into speaking Mandan as a first language. Benson, 78, lives in Twin Buttes, N.D., my home community on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Mandan, or Nu’eta, is one of the endangered languages of the world. Benson has been working with community members to revitalize the language. I’m honored to share those recordings.

In this video, listen to the word of the day: No. Mikosh.

Thanks for being a part of the Twin Buttes Community language revitalization project.

Jodi Rave

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)

Founder & Editor in Chief

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Location: Twin Buttes, North Dakota

Spoken Languages: English

Topic Expertise: Federal trust relationship with American Indians; Indigenous issues ranging from spirituality and environment to education and land rights

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