understanding our global family.
Penobscot Primer
The Penobscot Primer is an innovative, computerized Native American language resource for teaching and research, at it is incorporated into one of the kiosks at the new Hudson Museum.
Photographer Richard Garrett developed the Primer to use with the late Madeline Shay, the last Penobscot brought up speaking the native language. Inspired by slides, Madeline spoke in her native tongue about the Penobscot world. Penobscot teachers Carol Dana and Barry Dana employed the written phonemes of Dr. Frank T. Siebert to transcribe her words. The Hudson Museum supported this effort by donating a computer to the Penobscot Nation’s Indian Island School to run the Primer. The exhibit in the Hudson Museum includes the Penobscot Primer, items of Penobscot material culture, and color photographic prints from the Primer. The Penobscot Primer is dedicated to Madeline’s grandchildren.
Listen to Madeline speak in Penobscot:
I don't want to go to school. No! No!
The bird is going to fly away.
To appreciate the full scope of the Penobsot Primer Project, please visit the project's website at http://penobscotprimer.org/.
