Loren Bommelyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Loren Bommelyn
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Bommelyn in 2014
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| Born | 1956 |
| Nationality | Tolowa, Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation |
| Education | Master's Degree in Linguistics, University of Oregon, family |
| Known for | Basket weaving, singing |
| Elected | Councilor Emeritus, Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation |
Loren Me’-lash-ne Bommelyn, born in 1956, is a very important person for the Tolowa tribe. He works hard to keep their old traditions alive. He helps save their traditional songs, language, and basket weaving skills. He is the main ceremonial leader of the tribe. He is also their most skilled basket weaver.
Bommelyn is a member of the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation. This is a tribe that the United States government officially recognizes. He was even chosen to be their tribal chairperson.
Contents
Saving the Tolowa Language and Teaching
Loren Bommelyn has family roots in the Tolowa, Karuk, and Wintu tribes. His mother, Eunice Bommelyn, was famous for studying family histories. She also strongly supported the Tolowa language and culture. Loren speaks the Tolowa language very well. He taught for many years at Del Norte High School in Crescent City, California.
He earned a master's degree in linguistics from the University of Oregon. Linguistics is the study of language. After learning from older Tolowa people for years, Bommelyn wrote books and materials to teach the Tolowa language. He helped convince the University of California to accept Native American languages. This meant students could use them to meet world language requirements for college. He also supports using the Tolowa language in modern ways. This includes on Facebook and for texting.
Before he retired, Bommelyn taught at Taa-'at-dvn Indian Magnet Charter School. This school is in Crescent City. He taught there with his wife, Lena Bommelyn, who has also retired. Loren believes it is important for students to know they can succeed in American society. He wants them to feel free to explore new things.
As of 2012, Bommelyn's son, Pyuwa Bommelyn, is also studying linguistics. He is at the University of Oregon. He plans to continue the work of preserving the Tolowa language.
Amazing Basket Weaving
In many Northern California tribes, women usually make most baskets. However, men traditionally weave special open-work baskets. These are made using whole plant shoots. This kind of weaving needs a lot of physical strength and skill. Bommelyn is especially good at making these strong, useful baskets. He often uses hazel shoots.
He wove his very first basket when he was just 12 years old. Today, he is famous for his work baskets and baby cradles. He believes baskets should be both beautiful and useful. He wants his baskets to be used every day. He says that old Native Americans believed things get lonely if they are not used.
Awards and Honors
In 2002, Loren Bommelyn received a special award. It was the National Heritage Fellowship. This award comes from the National Endowment for the Arts. It is the highest honor in the United States for folk and traditional arts. He was recognized for his efforts to save and promote Tolowa culture. This includes the language, traditional clothing, dances, songs, and basket making. He is known as the most knowledgeable person about the Tolowa language today.
Published Works
- Bommelyn, Loren. Now You're Speaking Tolowa. Arcata, California: Center for Indian Community Development, Humboldt State University, 1995.
- Givón, T. and Loren Bommelyn. "The Evolution of De-Transitive Voice in Tolowa Athabaskan." Studies in Language. 24:1, 2000: 41–76.
See also
In Spanish: Loren Bommelyn para niños
