Preserving Native Sign Languages | A Deaf Scholar’s Mission

Preserving Native Sign Languages | A Deaf Scholar’s Mission Subscribe: http://go.arizona.edu/yt-subscribe Melanie McKay-Cody, a Deaf scholar of Cherokee and other tribal ancestries, is committed to preserving Native Sign Languages. Her passion for this mission began at a young age when she realized that many Native tribes had their own unique sign languages beyond American Sign Language — languages she hadn't known existed. McKay-Cody has since dedicated her life to researching and preserving these Indigenous languages. A new video dictionary project that McKay-Cody is developing in partnership with tribes and other institutions aims to document and protect the linguistic diversity of Native communities. Her work honors tribal sovereignty and ensures that these languages, rich in history and culture, are preserved for future generations. Producer/Director/Editor: Arlene Islas Associate Producer/Narrator: Kyle Mittan Photography: Arlene Islas Interpreters: Donavan Williams, Whitney Weirick Postproduction interpreting assistance: Whitney Weirick Special Thanks: University of Arizona's DRC ASL Interpreting 00:00 - Introduction to Melanie McKay-Cody 00:23 - Early Life and Hearing Loss 01:04 - The Beginning of Her Mission 01:46 - The Importance of Preserving Native Sign Languages 02:06 - Creation of a Video Dictionary 03:27 - Working with Tribal Communities 04:19 - Closing: Preserving a Legacy MB01FF62GF0AHXK Follow The University of Arizona: Facebook:   / uarizona   Instagram:   / uarizona   X:   / uarizona   Official Website: https://www.arizona.edu UANews: https://news.arizona.edu Subscribe to Our Channel: Stay updated with the latest U of A news ►► https://go.arizona.edu/yt-subscribe Land Acknowledgement We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. The University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service. #universityofarizona #arizona #university #uofa #arizonawildcats