CSILW Research

[Note: Graphics on this page are taken from CU student work for the Arapaho Website Project]

Arapahoan Research Projects (see list of recent scholarly publications)

Arapaho Text Anthology: Arapaho Historical Traditions

Project Goals: To produce a significant collection of Arapaho texts, with linguistic analysis and English translation. Very little Arapaho textual material has ever been published.
Details: The anthology is now complete, and appeared from University of Manitoba Press, Publications of the Algonquian Text Society. Title: Hinóno'éínoo3ítoono/ Arapaho Historical Traditions. Told by Paul Moss. Edited, translated and with a glossary by Andrew Cowell & Alonzo Moss, Sr. Past funding from the Wyoming Council for the Humanities contributed to this project, as well as the University of Colorado Graduate Council for the Arts and Humanities
Contact: Andrew Cowell (James.cowell@colorado.edu)

Arapaho Grammar

Project Goals: To produce the first general grammar of the Arapaho language. The grammar will be in a sequential, pedagogical form, accessible to non-linguists, and will include sample exercizes with answers and socio-cultural commentary. A complete, detailed technical index will be included for the use of linguists.
Details: Forthcoming, University Press of Colorado, 2008. Past funding from the American Philosophical Society contributed to this project, as well as assistance from Wind River Tribal College, Wyoming.
Contact: Andrew Cowell (James.Cowell@colorado.edu)

Arapaho Language Archives

Project Goals: To make existing Arapaho language material available to a wide audience in a usable format on the web and in published form..
Details: The project focuses on three types of materials: 1) manuscript materials; 2) previously published material available in a limited fashion, or lacking in adequate linguistic presentation; 3) Arapaho-produced materials unavailable off the reservation (primarily curricular materials). The project is ongoing. Some material is currently available in electronic format, including on this website. Other material has been produced in booklet form and distributed on the Wind River Reservation, including:

- three autobiographies collected in Arapaho in 1929
- six Arapaho mythological narratives collected 1910-1929
- six trickster narratives collected 1910-1929
- the mythological narrative of Tangled Hair/Found in the Grass
- retranscriptions of James Mooney's collection of Arapaho Ghost Dance songs
- retranscriptions of catholic and episcopal religious material translated into Arapaho in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
- retranscriptions of Arapaho song texts collected by Nathalie Curtis, Edward Curtis, and others
- retranscriptions of four Arapaho prayers and speeches recorded by Alfred Kroeber

We hope to eventually publish a collection entitled "Arapaho Mythological and Religious Traditions, 1850-1950." This project is currently funded by the Endangered Language Fund and University of Colorado's Council on Research and Creative Work.

Contact: Andrew Cowell

Arapaho Web Project (www.colorado.edu/csilw/newarapproj2.htm)

Project Goals: To document Arapaho language, history and culture on the web, in multi-media format.
Details: The website is now complete. It was supported by Colorado Endowment for the Humanities, Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as by individual private donors. The website was produced in cooperation with CU's Technology, Arts and Media (TAM) certificate program, and also received funding from CU's IMPART Diversity committee.
Contact: Andrew Cowell

Arapaho Stories of Richard Moss

Project Goals: To produce a bilingual anthology of reservation-era Arapaho stories, to complement existing texts collected by Zdenek Salzmann and others (mythological) and Andrew Cowell and Alonzo Moss, Sr. (historical, pre-reservation).
Details: The project is now complete. The project was being funded by Wyoming Council for the Humanities. The full volume (270pp + 3 CD's with 28 stories) is available through CSILW. We are now gathering additional stories, for a larger volume of reservation-era Arapaho narratives. Current funding for this stage of the project is through the Kayden Fund, University of Colorado.
Contact: Andrew Cowell .

Arapaho Multi-media CD-ROM Educational Package

Project Goal: To produce multi-media CD-ROMS on Arapaho language and culture which complement and enhance the existing Arapaho website. The CD-ROMs are available for use on the Wind River Reservation and by staff at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Details: This project is now complete. The set of two CD-ROMs is available for sale on this website. The project was funded by the National Park Service, with past support from Colorado Endowment for the Humanities and the University of Colorado, as well as private donors.
Contact: Andrew Cowell

Gros Ventre Grammar

Project Goals: To produce a complete grammar of the Gros Ventre (Atsina) language.
Details: Allan Taylor is currently working on this project. The research was supported in the past by the National Endowment for the Humanities and is currently supported by the Gros Ventre Tribe of Montana. A sketch of the grammar has been produced by Andrew Cowell using Taylor's materials (see list of publications available below).
Contact: Allan Taylor

Gros Ventre Dictionary

Project Goals: To produce a general dictionary of the Gros Ventre (Atsina) language.
Details: Allan Taylor has produced a draft dictionary. He is working to complete the project. The research was supported in the past by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Currently, a larger database of all Gros Ventre lexical items is being compiled by Andrew Cowell, based on the dictionary work as well as earlier documentation.
Contact: Allan Taylor

Available Publications (see list of recent scholarly publications)

Telling Stories: Arapaho Narrative Traditions
This is a 46-minute video on Arapaho oral narratives. It includes three texts, told in Arapaho with English subtitles. It comes with an accompanying 44-page booklet which includes transcription and linguistic analysis of the material, as well as additional information on Arapaho narrative traditions and on the video. The project was funded by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities. Copyright 2001, Wyoming Council for the Humanities.
To obtain a copy: contact Andrew Cowell

Let's Learn Arapaho
A booklet which offers a basic introduction to the Arapaho language for self-learners, with twenty lessons. Partially supported in the past by American Philosophical Society. Copyright 2003, Andrew Cowell.
To obtain a copy: contact Andrew Cowell
( See also language learning material on this website.)

A Sketch of Gros Ventre Grammar
A 50-page booklet which outlines Gros Ventre grammar, intended for self-learners. Supported in part by Fort Belknap Tribal College. Copyright 2004, Andrew Cowell.
To obtain a copy: contact Andrew Cowell