Earlier this semester, Mrs. Martha ("Marti") Nell Poolaw announced she will be retiring after 11 years of working for the Native American Studies Program. On April 30, we gathered to celebrate her and her contributions to NAS. The Norman Transcript features Marti in a recent article, "Kiowa elder, first language speaker, retires from OU as instructor"
Marti, an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe, has been teaching the Kiowa language at OU since the fall semester of 2012. Marti said that "some of the highlights of the Kiowa language course is to promote the tribal culture as well as the language. I feel the students should have a knowledge of the people whose language they are learning."
In addition to her regular instruction of the intermediate level of Kiowa, Marti has been an advisor to various groups who are in the movie or television business. When parts call for use of languages, she was asked to translate their words into Kiowa. She has also translated some words into Kiowa for Indigenous artists to describe their art work, including some works in major art galleries throughout the country. She is one of the tribal consultants for Kiowa tribal dance and dress. Marti serves on the Kiowa language credential board for Kiowa candidates studying to become Kiowa language teachers at the high school level in the state of Oklahoma.
Thank you, Marti, for all your contributions to teaching Kiowa and Native American Studies! Marti is always a part of our NAS family, and we celebrate her many achievements and retirement.
