Making sense of "Cathlapottle": How Chinookans made (and said) names on the land
Special Guest Presenter Henry Zenk
May 11th, 2014, 2pm.
Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge: 28908 NW Main Ave; Ridgefield, WA 98642
Join us as at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse we explore how geographic names are formed in the Chinookan languages. The NW is covered in place names that come from local Chinookan Native American languages, and words like Memaloose, Skookum, Ilahee, and Tilikum continue to dot the landscape of our area. Henry Zenk, consulting linguist with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde will summarize what we know about how Chinookans themselves constructed and pronounced the names they bestowed on their lands and on its original inhabitants. He draws especially on records left by linguists who worked with some of the languages' last fluent speakers. Many of these sources remain unpublished to this day.
This event is part of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse's Second Sunday Series of events. Children's activities will be available from 12-4pm as well as guided Plankhouse tours, and information on International Migratory Bird Day. For more information contact Sarah Hill at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov or call 360-887-4106.
The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is located on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, 28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield WA 98604. There is a $3.00 entrance fee per vehicle visiting the Refuge. To arrange wheelchair access to the Plankhouse, please contact Sarah Hill at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov or call (360) 887-4106.