EUFAULA – On Sep. 27 the Eufaula-Canadian Tribal Town hosted their 10th Annual Mvskoke Spelling Bee Competition with the help of the Muscogee Creek Nation Language Department at the Eufaula Indian Community Center. The competition was open to all ages, and money prizes were given to 1st-3rd place winners. The center welcomed everyone to watch this year’s competition, and lunch was provided to the participants and visitors.
It was the first time entering for this year’s champion, Flo Wise (Seminole). Wise enjoyed the competition and had fun testing out her language skills. “I think it’s a good way for anybody to test their skills or just practice too, especially pronunciation and everything. I think it definitely helped me a little bit,” Wise said.
There were 10 participants entered into this year’s competition including Jon Tiger (Mvskoke) with the Eufaula-Canadian Tribal Town. Tiger spoke to Mvskoke Media about this competition and what the goal is for continuation of the Mvskoke Spelling Bee.
The idea of the bee started several years ago. “As an organization we sit there and talk about the language, the different dialects that happen now. In different regions of the Creek Nation, there’s some different dialects now. We wanted to expand on that to include the spelling bee because many people can speak the language but they can’t spell the words,” Tiger shared.
“So we thought it might open doors to other insights of the language and we would like to include the youth one day. However it’s mainly geared towards the spelling of the Mvskoke word.”
Last year, according to Tiger, they had 10 contestants, like this year, and a really great
turnout. He has noticed people are becoming more familiar with this competition and the need for it, but Tiger also sees the event as fun for participants.
The spelling bee used Mvskoke words from the green dictionary published by Jack B. Martin and Margaret McKane Mauldin. Before the competition, anyone participating could pick up a study guide provided by the MCN Mvskoke Language Department to help prepare for the competition. The department was in charge of the competition and choosing Mvskoke words.
The Eufaula-Canadian Tribal Town’s goal is to expand the knowledge of the Mvskoke language and spelling and for the people that are just watching. “We encourage them that they can take the study guides with them and to be more familiar with it. We had several contestants that were scattered out throughout the Creek Nation and they are all from different regions, which was a good sign that the words are getting out and we’ve invited more people to come in this year too. If you don’t participate at least watch,” Tiger said.
What Tiger enjoys most about helping host this year’s competition is meeting new people and getting to know other Mvskoke citizens. He also likes speaking to the public about the Eufaula-Canadian Tribal Town’s history and how they came about.Tiger also noted that they allow associate members to join them in different activities and events they have throughout the year.
Wise would like more events like this. She was glad to see that the Eufaula Canadian-Tribal town hosting a spelling bee and hopes to see other tribal towns hosting one as well, “almost like a district then a big ole Championship at the dome or something,” Wise said. In the end she wanted to say, “South Canadians stand up.”
Results provided by MCN Mvskoke Language Department on Sep. 27:
1st place: Flo Wise
2nd place: Mike Harjo
3rd place: Nancy Spain
