About Dorothy Ramon
From left, Dorothy
Ramon's grandniece Carolyn Horsman, nephew Ernest Siva, sister Katherine Howard,
with Dorothy Ramon (far right) in the 1970s. Morris the cat lies in front. (Siva
Family photo)
Dorothy
Ramon was the last “pure” speaker of the Serrano language
— the last person who thought, dreamed, and spoke first in Serrano, and
then in English. Serrano once was spoken over a wide area of Southern California,
including what are now parts of San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.
But by the 1980s Serrano was reduced to the “pure” fluency of Ms.
Ramon. Since the history and traditions of the Serrano people are contained
in their language, the loss of the spoken word also meant the fragmenting and
erosion of their culture. When she was in her eighties, Mrs. Ramon began working
with a linguist, Eric Elliott. They worked together for more than 10 years and
their work has been instrumental in saving the Serrano language. Read
about Dorothy Ramon's life
After Mrs. Ramon died in 2002, friends, family members and other supporters
decided to carry on her work and expand to include all of Southern California’s
Indian cultures, languages, history, arts, and traditions. Led by Ernest H.
Siva, who is Morongo Reservation tribal historian and cultural advisor (and
also Mrs. Ramon’s nephew), members of Morongo and San Manuel reservations
along with others from across Southern California united to form Dorothy Ramon
Learning Center, Inc. This nonprofit, public-benefit corporation works to save
and share Southern California’s endangered American Indian cultures, an
important part of our national heritage. In addition, people from all walks
of life and different ethnic backgrounds are joining to support the Nonprofit’s
efforts through the Nonprofit’s associate membership program, called Heritage
Keepers.
Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, Inc., and its publishing arm, Ushkana Press,
honor the life and work of Dorothy Ramon, one woman who made a difference.
© copyright
2004 Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, Inc.,
P.O. Box 1510, Banning, CA U.S.A. 92220
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