How Native American Sign Languages Shaped Modern ASL and Bridged Cultures Across Centuries

The integral relationship between Plains Native Americans and American Sign Language (ASL) is a fascinating aspect of pre-contact history that underscores the deep cultural connections and innovative communication strategies developed by Indigenous peoples of North America. This relationship highlights the adaptability of Native American societies and illustrates the profound connections between the deaf community and Native communities, each with our rich, unique cultures.

Historical Context

Our ancestors, the Plains Native Americans, developed a complex system of sign language, often called Plains Indian Sign Language (PISL), to facilitate communication between tribes with distinct languages before the arrival of Europeans. This system served as a lingua franca, enabling trade, diplomacy, and social interaction across the vast expanses of the North American Plains. PISL was not merely a collection of gestures but a rich, expressive language capable of conveying abstract concepts, emotions, and narratives. A. Taylor’s study, “The Plains Indian Sign Language,” provides an extensive overview of its origins and use among our tribes.

We are believed to be the creators of the world’s first sign languages, with records of our fully-formed communication system bridging the communications gap among the various Native Americans for trade and more. This sign-based language allowed our tribes to communicate with each other regardless of our spoken Indigenous language.

The video above shows representatives of a dozen tribes from the Plains, Plateau, and Basin cultural areas across North America gathered in Browning, Montana, from 4-6 September 1930 for a council on preserving their sign language. US General Hugh Scott, who knew the language, presided as a translator and filmed the tribal representatives demonstrating their sign language.

Connection with American Sign Language

The early 19th century saw the development of American Sign Language through a convergence and adaptation process, where European sign languages met Indigenous sign systems. Scholars suggest that Native American sign languages, including PISL, influenced ASL, particularly in their visual-spatial nature and emphasis on storytelling and expression. Jeffrey E. Davis’s work, “Hand Talk: Sign Language among American Indian Nations,” significantly contributes to understanding this influence and the linguistic status of PISL. The convergence of French Sign Language, brought to America by Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, with Native American sign languages is a pivotal moment in the history of ASL. This unique blend of sign languages is detailed in resources like Gallaudet University Press’s excerpt on Multilingualism and Sign Languages and Lifeprint’s history of ASL, which explores the rich tapestry of influences that shaped ASL.

Cultural Significance

The use of sign language among Plains Native Americans was integrated into the social and ceremonial life of the community, reflecting a broader cultural attitude towards disability and difference. This inclusivity indicates that deafness was not seen as a deficiency but another aspect of human diversity. The research documented in “Appendix B: Sign-Language Symbols” by C. Patterson explores the origins and significance of Indian sign language, further highlighting its role in cross-tribal communication and cultural practices.

Modern Implications

Today, the connection between ASL and Native American sign languages is a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving linguistic and cultural heritage. For both the deaf community and Native communities alike, sign language is more than a means of communication; it is a vessel of cultural identity, history, and resilience. Efforts to revitalize endangered Native American languages, including sign languages, are crucial in maintaining our cultural sovereignty and preserving our traditions.

Reflection on Assimilation Efforts

Reflecting on the history and cultural significance of sign language within our Native American communities, we find parallels in the experiences of the deaf community and our struggles against assimilation efforts. Historically, deaf individuals were oppressed by a hearing majority that viewed them as incapable of language and reason. This began to change with the development of formal sign language education, which recognized the linguistic capabilities of deaf individuals, leading to the establishment of sign language schools and the eventual creation of American Sign Language (ASL) from a blend of French Sign Language (LSF), Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language, and Plains Indian Sign Language.

However, the liberation sign language offered to the deaf community was challenged by the oralism movement, spearheaded by figures like Alexander Graham Bell. This movement aimed to suppress sign language, pushing deaf individuals to speak and lip-read instead—a method that not only proved largely ineffective but also further marginalized the deaf community. This push towards oralism mirrors the efforts to assimilate Native peoples into mainstream society, stripping away our languages, cultures, and traditions in favor of a homogenized identity.

Just as the deaf community faced these challenges, our Native communities have also confronted policies and practices aimed at our assimilation. From the establishment of boarding schools that forbade the use of Native languages and practices to policies that sought to erase our cultural identities, we have a shared history of resilience in the face of attempts to diminish our heritage.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that the deaf community began to reclaim their language and culture, asserting the importance of sign language as their natural mode of communication. Similarly, Native American communities have been revitalizing our languages and traditions, reaffirming our identities and the importance of our cultural heritage.

United We Stand

The relationship between Plains Native Americans and American Sign Language is a testament to the ingenuity and interconnectedness of human societies. It underscores the value of cross-cultural exchange and embracing our heritage and traditions.

The journey from oppression to recognition and celebration of sign language and Native languages is a testament to the power of community, innovation, and the human spirit. It serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our heritage and traditions for future generations, ensuring that our languages and cultures continue to thrive.