Speaking from the Heart: Lynette St. Clair on Language, Legacy, and the Shoshone Way

2025-05-22

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🗣️ "I grew up in a household where Shoshone was spoken. That language shaped my world—now I’m working to make sure it shapes the future too." – Lynette St. ClairOn this episode of Winds of Change, host Emy DiGrappa welcomes Lynette St. Clair—Shoshone linguist, educator, and cultural preservationist from Fort Washakie, Wyoming. Recently honored as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, Lynette shares her journey growing up on the Wind River Reservation, preserving the Shoshone language, and bringing it to screens through major media platforms....

🗣️ "I grew up in a household where Shoshone was spoken. That language shaped my world—now I’m working to make sure it shapes the future too." – Lynette St. Clair

On this episode of Winds of Change, host Emy DiGrappa welcomes Lynette St. Clair—Shoshone linguist, educator, and cultural preservationist from Fort Washakie, Wyoming. Recently honored as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, Lynette shares her journey growing up on the Wind River Reservation, preserving the Shoshone language, and bringing it to screens through major media platforms.

We explored the deep roots of the Shoshone language, the challenges of representation in education, and the importance of listening to and honoring elders. Lynette also reflects on building community-based language resources like the Newe Daygwap app to teach and learn the Eastern Shoshone language. And why cultural identity is essential for healing and resilience in Native youth.

This is a conversation about inspiration, connection, and carrying stories forward in a fast-changing world.

📚 Shoshone Language & Cultural Resources

Newe Daygwap app (Shoshone Language App)
A mobile app developed by the Eastern Shoshone Tribe to teach and preserve the Shoshone language using local voices.
Shoshone Dictionary
Compiled by Reba Teran and others, this is a foundational resource used by educators and learners: https://www.hcn.org/issues/issue-303/she-builds-new-words-in-an-ancient-tongue/
Indigenous Language Institute (ILI)
Supports tribes in documenting, revitalizing, and promoting Native languages across the U.S.
🌐 www.ilinative.org
Endangered Languages Project
A collaborative platform where you can explore language data, recordings, and revitalization efforts worldwide.
🌐 www.endangeredlanguages.com
Language Conservancy – Shoshone Projects
Works with tribes to create language apps, dictionaries, and curriculum.
🌐 www.languageconservancy.org

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