What are the chances?

The class at Station Creek Camp several nights ago would seem to have been like numerous others. Several students sat in the folding chairs while more stood in the background. The flicker of the citronella candles caste shadows upon the white board containing familiar, friendly phrases in English. One 19 year old student tries to pretend that he doesn't have a crush on a first-time volunteer while another man tries to show off his better-than- average English skills. 

There were several things that made this particular class a bit unusual. Of the 10 students in this particular class, 3 were named Nicholas. (Not to mention that that my son Nicholas, who was in charge of taking attendance and while filling out COEs, raised the number to 4.)

And yes, there were three men with the name of Jose (not including my own name had I been a Latino). 

But I haven't even gotten to the most notable detail of the evening. 

In that class of 10 students and 3 OSY staff, there were six different languages represented. In addition to the obvious presence of Spanish and English, we had 4 indigenous languages as well: Zapoteco, Mixteco, Nahuatl, and Popti'.

Considering that too many people north of the Rio Grande believe that only Mexican is spoken  by their  southern neighbors, I find it rather amazing that at least 62 indigenous languages continue to be spoken in Mexico.  At least as many Mayan Languages continue to be spoken in Guatemala. Unfortunately, many of the American Indians of the region are ashamed of their heritage and language and they will tell you that they are Hispanic. I feel a need to remind them that while it's important to learn English, it's also important to pass their native language on to the next generation. Because there is so much discrimination toward the indigenous people of Chiapas and Oaxaca by the Mexican Government, they have been encouraged, or even forced in some cases, to assimilate into the more traditional Latino culture.

There is a State of South Carolina Migrant Recruiter by the name of Bruce Wright who has taken the time to record numerous examples of indigenous dialects he encounters in the migrant camps throughout the state. In fact, he has surprised numerous American Indians from Southern Mexico by speaking to them in a Zapoteco or Otomi,  dialects many in Mexico have never even heard.