Utilizing and Creating Indigenous Children’s Literature to Reclaim the Endangered Hoche Language

Authors

Jue Wang, University of IdahoFollow

Abstract

Stemming from a large ethnographic study exploring young Indigenous children’s literacy and language practices in and out of school in a Hoche elementary school in rural Northeast China, this paper focuses on the navigation of Indigenous literature, language, and literacy learning of young Hoche children. Particularly, this reflective paper challenges the efficacy of Hoche language education in the oppressive context of the public schooling system, inviting Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators in China and across the world to rethink the urgency of reclaiming this endangered language and the power of Indigenous literature in understanding Hoche Indigenous ways of knowing, belonging, and becoming. Through reflecting on challenges surrounding contemporary Hoche language practices, this essay sheds light on tools to effectively utilize Indigenous children’s literature for engaging young generations’ awareness to revitalize the Hoche Indigenous language. Adopting multimodal ways of learning Hoche language can lead to celebrations of Hoche literature, including the Yimankan oral storytelling, fish skin art-based literature composition, and multimodal demonstrations of Hoche language.

Author Biography

Dr. Jue Wang



Dr. Jue Wang is an assistant professor of Literacy Studies in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Idaho. She obtained her doctoral degree with an emphasis in Language, Culture, and Society from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Skilled in both theoretical and qualitative methodological approaches, she has a focused research agenda that incorporates early literacy studies and Indigenous language studies to explore how Indigenous children experience marginalization and alienation in local, regional, and international contexts.

Recommended Citation

Wang, J. (2025). Utilizing and creating Indigenous children’s literature to reclaim the endangered Hoche language. Occasional Paper Series, (54). DOI: https://doi.org/10.58295/2375-3668.1558