The Teshakonatnʌtshotalhu is an Oneida Language medium school using immersion as the technique for instruction. This means that the school uses only the Oneida language as the medium of instruction to implement a culture-based curriculum based on the Oneida ceremonial cycle beginning with children age 3. Students attend Teshakonatnʌtshotalhu Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm from September to May, which totals approximately 30 hours of Oneida language immersion instruction each week. As the program expands, builds capacity, and adds newly trained staff in upcoming years, the intent is for the program to shift from a traditional school calendar (September-May) to a year-round calendar so that students can engage in cultural summer activities that would otherwise be missed in a traditional school year, such as planting and picking medicines.

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Currently, Teshakonatnʌtshotalhu serve children who fall in the prime age of language acquisition, which includes preschool age children. Our new enrollees include children from 3 to 6 years old. This decision was made to positively impact and influence children’s Oneida language speaking abilities during the target ages of early-childhood, which sets a foundation for more advanced Oneida language acquisition as the children age into higher grade classrooms as the program expands in the coming years, adding classrooms for higher grades.

 

Not only is Teshakonatnʌtshotalhu developed to increase speakers of the Oneida language, but also to impart cultural values and positively impact identity formation. Our cultural values help shape self-awareness, relationships, self-assurance, and success later in life. A strong Oneida identity also contributes to a sense of belonging and connectedness to the Oneida community.