A grammar and dictionary of Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ (Cayuga)

Carrie obtained a BA in Anthropology from the University of Saskatchewan (her home province) in 1986, and then moved to Ontario, Canada to attend the University of Toronto, receiving from that institution an MA (1990) and PhD (1995) in Linguistics. In 1993, she began working on a dictionary of Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀnéha:ˀ with Amos Key (De̱haihó:węhs; then-Director of the Language program at the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ontario), as well as with his siblings (Lottie Keye and Alfred Keye) and their cousin Fran Froman. Later, from 2005-2017, she and Amos Key co-led several Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀnéha:ˀ language preservation projects funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Carrie is retired from the Department of Linguistics at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Cayuga, Wolf Clan. Frances (Fran) was a lifelong advocate for Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀnéha:ˀ language preservation and revitalization. She influenced generations of students, teaching Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀnéha:ˀ at Jamieson Elementary, S.S. No. 11 school, and I.L. Thomas Elementary School at Six Nations, Ontario. She also taught adult Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀnéha:ˀ language courses and was an Indigenous Knowledge Guardian at Six Nations Polytechnic. She co-authored the first Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀnéha:ˀ dictionary and helped translate and write down the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀnéha:ˀ version of Gaihwí:yo: (the Code of Handsome Lake). Finally, she helped record and preserve for the community the set of Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀnéha:ˀ funeral rites.

Mohawk, Turtle Clan. After a career as a hahnyǫˀǫhsrá:tęhs (ironworker), Alfred dedicated his later life to the preservation of Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ as a teacher, mentor, and consultant. Alfred was Tonǫ́hsga̲ˀwęh (Head Faith Keeper of his side of the Sacred Fire for the Turtle Moiety) at Seneca Longhouse. He was also an Indigenous Knowledge Guardian at Six Nations Polytechnic in Ohsweken, Six Nations, Ontario. He co-authored the first Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ dictionary and helped translate and write down the Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ version of Gaihwí:yo: (the Moral Code as recited by Handsome Lake). Finally, he helped record and preserve for the community the set of Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ funeral rites.

Mohawk, Turtle Clan, Lottie was the first Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ teacher at the pioneering Gawę:ni:yo: / Kawenni:io immersion school system at Six Nations, Ontario. She dedicated much of her life to Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ preservation and revitalization. In 2013, she was awarded a Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Award (an Indspire Award). She was also an Indigenous Knowledge Guardian at Six Nations Polytechnic in Ohsweken, Six Nations, Ontario. She co-authored the first Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ dictionary and helped translate and write down the Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ version of Gaihwí:yo: (the Moral Code as recited by Handsome Lake). She worked for many years at the Kawenni:io Language Preservation Project. She also helped record and preserve for the community the set of Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀnéha:ˀ funeral rites.