KIDS LEARN YAVAPAI WORDS AT THE LIBRARY

By Harrison J. Bahe

On August 12, 2026, this reporter attended a Yavapai language class exclusively catered to youth at the Fort McDowell Tribal Library. The class was hosted by the Culture Center and led by Culture Coordinator Clissene Lewis, who introduced the young learners to basic Yavapai words.

With the new school year beginning, Lewis felt it was important to teach words relevant to the students’ everyday school experiences. Among the words introduced were school, book, paper, and pencil.

In addition to learning simple vocabulary, the youth also learned how to introduce themselves to one another in the Yavapai language. Each student began by reading a prepared script, practicing their introductions with one another before setting the papers aside and attempting the introductions from memory. By the end of the class, the students were able to confidently and accurately introduce themselves in Yavapai.

“Today, we are teaching our kids the Yavapai language, the Abaja language, so that they can carry it on for future generations,” Lewis shared with this reporter.

The Tribal Library was equally proud to host the class in collaboration with the Culture Center. Tribal Librarian Tina Austin expressed her appreciation for the program, saying, “I’m glad that the Culture Department is facilitating this class, and we are glad to have them.”

The youth themselves responded positively to the experience. One student described the class as “fire” (modern lingo meaning something amazing, excellent, or exceptionally cool). Another student described the class as “okay,” explaining that she had tried her best given the challenges that come with learning a new language. One quiet student simply gave a nod of approval and that was more than enough for this reporter to know that the Yavapai language class was a resounding success!