ReCLAIMING the frickin' damn language!

The night is young. Well, kinda. The night is this past thursday. I just finished a long day of theater workshops on language reclaimation. I made it to downtown from UBC, thought "should I see Superman". I figured yeah, whynot. Movie was good, but that's not important. I knew I had to wake up early and head to another day of workshops, at UBC. I made it there 35 min early so I thought I could leave a bit later. But still, 5.5 hours isn't a whole lot of sleep (I know, it's bad).

I made my way to the last buss of the night. Made it to the buss stop, read the schedual. I had a decision; wait 20 min or flag cap and be home in 20 min. I decided I would save my money, and catch the buss. Best decision ever. Sat down, waiting for the buss. Unfortunaly my iPod broke down and I had nothing to do.

Two Mexican dudes roll up. I could smell the ciggerettes and alcohol on them. They asked if I knew when the next buss was coming. I told them, they nodded in appreciation. They sat down on the bench beside me. I, quietly waited for the buss to show up. The two Mexicn guys, start talking, well, Mexican to each other. They go off, and eventualy I can tell one is telling some kind of story because he's laughing and pretending to drive a buss. And the two guys go off talking to each other in Mexican. Just gave me more push to learn my language.

Waiting, waiting. The buss shows up. But, ever imagined a buss strolling up. Strobe lights, disco ball, flashing lights, lazers, everything all going off on a buss, as music resonates through the streets off of this huge car. Anyways, this wasn't that. But very similar. The buss rolls up, and I can hear singing coming from the buss. I step on, and walk past 4 people sitting up front. I decided to sit as close to these rowdy people, laughing and singing away. Then I notice they're singing in a different language. I listen closly and figure out it's French. The 3 women are going off, clapping, yelling, screaming away singing really off-key but still funnyly, little songs, of I don't know what, in French. The shout out "Viva la france!" and a bunch of other stuff. They talk to each other, say song names and sing.

I loved it so much I wish I could join in. I realized, one day I want to learn French, just because I think the language is so amazing to speak to someone in. The accent, the sound, the way the language flows. Absolutly amazing. Although, I have more urgent matters to learn, and understand my language(s) before I be learning any more colonial languages. After getting off the buss and high fiving them all. I walked off feeling pretty good. Then like a coconut on the head, it hit me. I knew then and there how I would really begin to learn the language. And best part of all, I could get other to join me. Here's the plan.

• Write lyrics in English for a "folk/drinkin/kids" song. The lyrics must be extremly obserd and rediculus.
• Translate these lyrics into the language.
• Completly learn, and understand the lyrics after translated.
• Compose a rythem for the lyrics.
• Add clapping, instruments, or any kind of non-verbal sound.
• Compose everything in to one rythem moved, song.
• Teach others.

Now, imagine how much fun this would be. Sitting on the buss, or in public, wanting to have fun. You and your indigenous friend shout out in laughter (for no reason at all!) and begin singing these strange folk songs that, you, and maybe a tiny ammount of other people (who would rarely be around), would understand. These lyrics are completly irration and wacked. You build a repetoir of songs, all different types, but still upbeat. What a better way to feel indigenous. Laugh at yourself, be with your brothers and sisters in somthing in common, and live the indigenous way with motion, emotion, and language. The English lyrics could be somthing like the follow:

Babies, babies, ugly kids.
I hate babies.
Babies ugly.
I feel like juggaling, babies!
Look at me go,
Throwing the babies!

See what I mean. How freaking mean and stupid, and wrong, is that? But you and a very select few would wonder what the hell your talking about. People would wonder what your singing about, and your laughter would show somthing funny. But you would know. Almost like a secret code. Then, to your indigenous brothers and sister, you tell them "learn the language and you'll find out". Then, tell them to follow the sames steps as above! Absoluly hilarity. I think I'll write a song about pushing over the eldery, knocking babies down, brutaly hurting a fish, and tight clothes. LMAO!