About the Project

The Wick R. Miller Collection Shoshoni Language Project (SLP), directed by Dr. Marianna Di Paolo, at the Center for American Indian Languages strives to preserve Shoshone linguistic and cultural heritage through language documentation and the revitalization & dissemination of materials.

SLP works with communities to document and preserve the Shoshoni language; disseminate learning materials to tribal members and teachers; create curricula and customized materials for various age levels, including bilingual children’s picture books; provide Shoshoni language teacher training; and assist tribal communities with grant preparation focused on language maintenance and revitalization.

SLP began with an NSF grant (#0418351, 2004-07, Mauricio J. Mixco (Principal Investigator) and Di Paolo (co-Investigator)) to preserve the original Wick R. Miller Collection recordings, and continues today with funding from Barrick.  (Di Paolo (Principal Investigator)) with a primary focus on providing assistance to the Western Shoshone tribes of eastern Nevada.

In addition to our other activities, in the past we have offered the Shoshone/Goshute Youth Language Apprenticeship Program (SYLAP).  The mission of SYLAP was two-fold:  (1) to introduce Shoshone high school students (sophomore to graduating seniors) to a university setting with the ultimate aim of increasing their success in higher education, and involving them in Shoshoni language revitalization, and (2) to continue to support young people who had taken part in SYLAP as they moved on to college and/or began work in their home communities in language or cultural maintenance and revitalization.