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Viktoria Pearson/LVN photo Betty Robinson will teach her grandaughter, Crystal Allen, the Western Shoshone language and culture in August.
The Nevada Arts Council approved 12 Folklife Apprenticeship grants in May, including two in Fallon.
The council approved more than $28,000 to be divided between the 12 recipients throughout Nevada. The two Fallon grants equal $4,907 for apprenticeship programs in the art of Western saddlemaking and Western Shoshone language and culture.
Each grant is based on the amount needed for the master artist to teach the apprentice an art form handed down within families, occupations, tribes, ethnic, regional and other community groups to preserve Nevada's rich cultural heritage.
Betty Robison of Fallon is one of the master artists that will be teaching granddaughter and apprentice Crystal Allen, 23, of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, the Western Shoshone language and culture. Robison's grant was for $2,407 and will be used for materials and continuing education throughout the year.
The council approved more than $28,000 to be divided between the 12 recipients throughout Nevada. The two Fallon grants equal $4,907 for apprenticeship programs in the art of Western saddlemaking and Western Shoshone language and culture.
Each grant is based on the amount needed for the master artist to teach the apprentice an art form handed down within families, occupations, tribes, ethnic, regional and other community groups to preserve Nevada's rich cultural heritage.
Betty Robison of Fallon is one of the master artists that will be teaching granddaughter and apprentice Crystal Allen, 23, of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, the Western Shoshone language and culture. Robison's grant was for $2,407 and will be used for materials and continuing education throughout the year.
Allen will learn the cultural aspects and the majority of the language skills in a two-week, 80-hour study course.
"We will focus on the culture and language eight hours a day for the entire two weeks. By the end of the two-week course, no more English will be spoken," said Robison. The training will continue with Allen through a correspondence program consisting of study guides, tapes and booklets Robison will make throughout the year.
Robison said she tried to teach Allen the language as a child, but she had no interest in learning.
"She became interested once she graduated from community college," said Robison.
Robison said when Allen began studying culture in college and learned many of the nation's traditions were slowly disappearing, she realized she had a responsibility to learn and to help preserve a culture that could die out in the near future.
"We will focus on the culture and language eight hours a day for the entire two weeks. By the end of the two-week course, no more English will be spoken," said Robison. The training will continue with Allen through a correspondence program consisting of study guides, tapes and booklets Robison will make throughout the year.
Robison said she tried to teach Allen the language as a child, but she had no interest in learning.
"She became interested once she graduated from community college," said Robison.
Robison said when Allen began studying culture in college and learned many of the nation's traditions were slowly disappearing, she realized she had a responsibility to learn and to help preserve a culture that could die out in the near future.
Allen is pursuing a degree in political science with a full scholarship to Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. Mount Holyoke is an all-female Ivy League college located near Boston.
"I had taken it for granted (the language)," Allen said. "When I went to school on the East Coast, I noticed a lack of Native American representation."
The Nevada Arts Council began the grant program in 1988 to preserve cultural heritage that was on the verge of disappearing from Nevada communities.
Folklife Apprenticeship Grants of no more than $2,500 are given to individual master artists statewide that apply with either one or more apprentices to preserve a relevant cultural heritage.
"I had taken it for granted (the language)," Allen said. "When I went to school on the East Coast, I noticed a lack of Native American representation."
The Nevada Arts Council began the grant program in 1988 to preserve cultural heritage that was on the verge of disappearing from Nevada communities.
Folklife Apprenticeship Grants of no more than $2,500 are given to individual master artists statewide that apply with either one or more apprentices to preserve a relevant cultural heritage.
Classes for the apprentice can last from a couple of weeks to an entire year, depending on the time needed to master the skill.
The grants are yearly and the application process begins in December. Grant decisions are generally voted on in May.
Visit the Web site for information on the Folklife Apprenticeship programs at www.NevadaCulture.org
Viktoria Pearson can be contacted at vpearson@lahontanvalleynews.com
The grants are yearly and the application process begins in December. Grant decisions are generally voted on in May.
Visit the Web site for information on the Folklife Apprenticeship programs at www.NevadaCulture.org
Viktoria Pearson can be contacted at vpearson@lahontanvalleynews.com
