NORMAN – The distinct sounds of Native languages were heard through the Sam Noble Museum auditorium on Monday, April 6, and Tuesday, April 7. Youth in Tribal language programs from all over Oklahoma competed against each other at the 23rd Annual Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair. This year’s theme was “My Language is My Home.”
Students competed in group and individual categories and came from language and school programs, including the Euchee Language Program, the Moore Public Schools Native American Education program, Preston Public Schools, Oklahoma City Public Schools Native American Student Services, the Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School, and the School of Choctaw Language.
The Euchee Language Program saw many students place in individual solo performances. Every student….Every student in the Euchee Language Program, regardless of proficiency level, attended this year’s language fair and competed in a solo event where they each performed a written piece. A total of 18 solo performances competed in the event by students in the Euchee Language Program. Students competed in spoken prayer, spoken language, and master performer. According to language teacher Tamara Wilson (Euchee/Mvskoke), the master performer category is new for seasoned learners who have a strong understanding of Euchee. The students competed as a whole group in a modern song category.
“It is so exciting because some of the kids are really shy. When they come to the center, we emphasize to them that we’re a community, we’re a family, and we stick together.”
The students put in a lot of hard work studying for their performance. According to Wilson, students practice daily how to introduce themselves, identify their family, and perform simple tasks like eating or drinking. Younger students practice identifying their age and where they live. For the fair, one student wrote a poem, one wrote a biography, and another wrote a story about Bigfoot.
“This is an experience for them to understand what it means to go on stage by yourself with a microphone and face a room of people that they don’t know,” Wilson said. “They’re learning how to speak confidently, poise, and how to conduct themselves on a stage in that manner.”
Allowing students to write and speak about subjects they enjoy helps motivate them to practice at home, not just in the group. Students grow in their language skills and grow together as a community. Wilson explained that while it is rewarding to see students place and take home a trophy, it is more thrilling to see students grow as public speakers.
“It’s so exciting to know that maybe outside the center, they don’t like speaking that much, or they are more of a quiet person. To see that quiet person stand on the stage in front of a lot of people, to feel the fear and do it anyway, it’s so rewarding to watch them do that,” Wilson said.
The Euchee Language Program is open to all school-aged Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizens and area Euchee descendants. After school classes are offered Monday through Friday. For more information, contact 918-247-6130.
A full list of the 2026 Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair Pre-K to 5th-grade winners can be accessed here. A full list of the 6th to 12th-grade winners can be accessed here.
Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair Awards
Pre-K – 2nd Grade Books
1st Place hôyUsA Brown, byôshtûshtû Tabbytite, and nahalA Turning Heart hE’nê s’@chE k’aalA (When the Earth was First Made), Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project Glenpool, OK
Pre-K – 2nd Grade Comics and Cartoons
2nd Place Ozzy Bryan Don’t Steal the Pokemon Ball, Mvskoke, Moore Public Schools Native American Education Moore, OK
Pre-K – 2nd Grade Individual Mobile Video
1st Place byôshtû agû Williams dEgÂha dOdE (I Brush My Teeth), Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project Glenpool, OK
Pre-K – 2nd Grade Individual Spoken Language Group A
2nd Place s’@nt’A Bearpaw gOjEthl@ wat’A hAg@, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
PreK-2nd Grade Individual Spoken Language Group B
1st Place zOdA Bearpaw bOshE nandA chîshâs’E wAk’@bE, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
2nd Place sEOdalA Turning Heart shadranE wAch@’@ dA’ElA, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
3rd Place Braden Lunsford Introduction, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
PreK-2nd Grade Individual Spoken Prayer Group A
1st Place zOdA Bearpaw Language & Home, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
PreK-2nd Grade Individual Spoken Prayer Group B
2nd Place byôshtûshtû Tabbytite nÔzAt’ê ayOchEyô, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
Honorable MentionKatawe Wilson Mention Summertime Prayer, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
PreK-2nd Grade Individual Master Performer
1st Place nahalA Turning Heart yUdjEhalA dA’ElAha, Euchee (Yuchi), Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
PreK – 2nd Grade Individual Modern Song
3rd Place sAwE Smith gOthl@nE wAtsa, Yuchi, Yuchi Immersion School – Yuchi Language Project Glenpool, OK
PreK – 2nd Grade Individual Modern Song
3rd Place sAwE Smith gOthl@nE wAtsa, Yuchi, Yuchi Immersion School – Yuchi Language Project Glenpool, OK
Pre-K – 2nd Grade Small Group (6-11) Modern Song
3rd Place PreK Class k’ala wAnû yagOkw@nE, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
3rd – 5th Grade Book
3rd Place hÊwûnE Grippando wAdAsta, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project Glenpool, OK
Honorable Mention ashtalA Turning Heart Mention wAdAsta, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project Glenpool, OK
3rd – 5th Grade Comic and Cartoon (Individual)
1st Place Enzlee Cassil Hvcce-nettv Vcokvlkv! Happy Birthday, Mvskoke, Moore Public Schools Native American Education Moore, OK
3rd – 5th Grade Film and Video
3rd Place ky@hanE Deere gOb@^d@^ wAk’@z@^ gO’nûshûchE asOTa!, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project Glenpool, OK
3rd-5th Grade Poster Art
1st Place Emmari Francois Opvknkv-haco, Mvskoke, Moore Public Schools Native American Education Moore, OK
Honorable Mention Elana Thompson Butterfly Creation, Mvskoke, Moore Public Schools Native American Education Moore, OK
3rd – 5th Grade Individual Master Performer
1st Place AshtalA Turning Heart yUdjEhalA dA’ElAha, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
3rd – 5th Grade Individual Spoken Language Group A
2nd Place Maleah Lunsford Sprinkles, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
3rd Place Salo Jones Introduction, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
3rd – 5th Grade Individual Spoken Language Group B
1st Place TagOfanE Bearpaw shUshU dA’ElA, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
2nd Place Raelyn Lunsford Let’s go! Euchee Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
3rd-5th Grade Small Group (4-5) Traditional Song
2nd Place Preston Elementary Untitled, Mvskoke, Preston Public Schools Preston, OK
3rd – 5th Grade Large Group (35) Traditional Song
2nd Place Yuchi Immersion School yUdjEha aKAyôya (If You are Yuchi Here), Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
6th – 8th Grade Book
1st Place gOdAanE Decker wAdAsta, Yuchi, Yuchi Language Project Glenpool, OK
6th – 8th Grade Individual Master Performer
1st Place Tvfolope Cargil Fam, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Glenpool, OK
2nd Place Sin’E Cargil Ribbon Dress, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Kellyville, OK
6th – 8th Grade Individual Spoken Language Group A
1st Place Roxie Harjo Creation Story, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Glenpool, OK
6th – 8th Grade Individual Spoken Language Group B
1st Place Brianna Lunsford Euchee Presentation, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
2nd Place gOdAanE Decker k’asA gOthl@^ dA’ElA Yuchi Language Project – Yuchi Immersion School Glenpool, OK
6th – 8th Grade Individual Spoken Poetry
1st Place Moody Mangrum Haiku, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
3rd Place Kadance Cargil Untitled, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
6th – 8th Grade Individual Spoken Prayer (Group A)
1st Place Brianna Lunsford Euchee Prayer, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
6th – 8th Grade Individual Spoken Prayer (Group B)
2nd Place Kagowe Wilson Pre-Game Prayer, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
3rd Place Coconut Jones Blessings All Around, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
9th – 12th Grade Poster Art
2nd Prize Vcenv Marks My Language, My Home, Mvskoke, School of Choctaw Language Hartshorne, OK
9th – 12th Grade Individual Spoken Language Group A
2nd Place Sarv Wolf Stonko!!, Mvskoke, OKCPS NAAS Oklahoma City, OK
9th – 12th Grade Individual Spoken Language (Group B)
2nd Place Jayleigh Harjo Earth Creation Story, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Glenpool, OK
9th – 12th Grade Large Group Modern Song
1st Place Euchee Language Learning Center Students Lean On Me, Euchee, Euchee Language Learning Center Sapulpa, OK
9th – 12th Grade Individual Traditional Song (Group B)
3rd Place Vcenv Marks Hvthvatken, Mvskoke, School of Choctaw Language Hartshorne, OK
