The Ponca language is one of the Siouan languages, spoken by the Ponca tribe in Oklahoma and Nebraska. But the language is slowly losing popularity.
The Ponca are a Siouan tribe from Nebraska that share a close tie with Omaha, Osage, Kanza and Quapaw peoples.
Steve Laravie Sr. is a language coordinator with the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. Laravie said the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma helped organize the first digital Ponca dictionary, which is now available in physical copies.
“In 2019, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska declared the Ponca language on the verge of extinction,” he said. “So we had to take some measures to save our language.”
The term Ponca translates to those who lead.
Laravie added that the last fluent speaker for the Ponca tribe of Nebraska died in 2006. He said adopting the dictionary and orthography made the process convenient for those hoping to learn the Ponca language.
The Ponca tribe of Nebraska offers language classes in Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk, Niobrara and Sioux City, Iowa. It is a once-a-week class that helps individuals learn how to speak the language, practice writing style and spelling.
“This is the survival of our people,” Laravie said. “Language is what makes us unique. The language is what makes us who we are.”
Laravie said Nebraska and Oklahoma are home to nearly 12,000 Ponca tribe members.
According to the Endangered Languages Project, Ponca is an endangered indigenous language in the U.S.
Laravie said only senior Ponca tribe members are fluent speakers, and there are fewer than 200 people who can both speak and understand the language.
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