Excursions in ’alapkaswa’: Talk with James Yee

In this talk, James Yee will discuss ’alapkaswa’, the ancient language of this land (also known as Barbareño Chumash). What is this language, where was it spoken, and by whom? What is the current state of the language and how did it get that way? What efforts have been made to preserve and bring back the language? In this introductory talk on ’alapkaswa’, these questions and more will be answered.

Born in Santa Barbara and raised in Goleta, James Yee is a descendant in a long line of Native American Chumash ancestors who have lived in southern Santa Barbara County for untold generations. James has a master’s degree in education from Temple University, Japan Campus and is the former chairman of the Barbareño Band of Chumash Indians. This month, he begins his 5th year as a graduate student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California at Santa Barbara, focusing on studies of ’alapkaswa’, the language of his ancestors.

This is a free event, but space is limited, so please register ahead of time on Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/Chumash-language