Name: Ira Left Hand
Tribal Affiliation: Crow
Interview Number: CRO65ILH061504
Topic: Sign Language
Language: Crow/Sign Language
Time Code In: 00:03:58:17
Time Code Out: 00:06:51:11
Tape 1 of 1 - Clone
Q: “Did your grandfather show you or did you say your grandmother taught you how to do sign language? Tell me about it.”
A:
“I was still real young when she took me and raised me. Later, my uncle took me in and raised me when she died. My grandmother couldn’t hear and she used sign language.
I grasped it and learned how this way.”
Q: “Which grandmother was this?”
A: “Medicine Tail Left Hand.”
Q: “So who showed you how to sign? Who taught you sign language?”
A:
“It was this grandmother.”
Q: “Are there many Crow people who communicate in the old sign language today?”
A: “Just very few. There aren’t very many who do this, I think.”
Q: “Are you teaching any of you children or grandchildren how to sign language?”
A:
“No.”
Q: “Why?”
A:
They don’t want to learn.” (laughs)
Q: “Okay. I am going to say a word one by one tell me by using sign language.
How do you sign my father?”

A:
“Makes a sign with right hand around his forehead with pointing finger.”
Q: “My mother?”
A:
“With right hand touches his heart.”
Q: “My sister?”
A:
“With both hands makes a gesture to indicate hair around neck and with right hand around his forehead with point finger and makes the two sign.”
Q: “My brother?”
A:
“Makes a sign with right hand around his forehead with point finger and then puts both pointing fingers together.”
Q: “My son?”
A:
“Makes sign around his forehead with his pointing finger and roles his hands.”
Q: “My daughter?”
A:
“Takes both hands as if indicating braids and then touches his heart and roles his hands.”
Q: “My husband?”
A: “
Makes a sign with right hand around his forehead and with both forefingers together to indicate together.”
Q: “My wife?”
A:
“Makes a sign by touching his heart and with both forefingers together to indicate together.”
Q: “My house?”
A: “Do you want me sign the modern way or the old way for my teepee?”
Q: “Sign the one for my teepee.”

A:
“Puts hands together with finger weaved together with fingers up.”
Q: “Horse?”
A:
“Makes sign with right hand that separates first two fingers and connects with the left hand to make it seem like there is a person riding a horse with the left hand being the horse.”
Q: “Enemy?”
A: “Hits his two fists together.”