Thornton Media, Inc.
Copyright ® 2009 Thornton Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
| Lucinda Robbins, a master speaker of Cherokee, records the ancient language with her grandson, Don Thornton, founder of Thornton Media, Inc. |
| This is a clear case of exploitation of cultural property and unfortunately not an unusual one. Every community we've visited has similar stories. This event inspired Thornton to search for ways for tribes to revitalize their languages themselves without the need for outside help; to allow tribes to control their own language destiny and cultural property. |
| Shortly after 9/11 Don Thornton read about a new voice technology designed for the US military and funded by DARPA. He campaigned for the permission to use the technology in the fight to save indigenous languages. The technology was owned by a defense contractor whose president told Thornton his business plan made no sense and there was no market for it. He allowed one sales call to attempt to sell a unit to tribe. He sold three on the first sales call and became a top vendor for the defense contractor. By 2008 he was working with over 100 native communities with the technology. More than 80 news outlets from around the world wrote stories on the work of TMI. |
"He was denied but continued on his quest"
Technology helps tribe pass on native speech
By Ann Marie Bush
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, March 05, 2008
By Ann Marie Bush
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, March 05, 2008
The first Indians who programmed it were Don's family members, including his grandmother Lucinda Robbins of Tahlequah OK, a master speaker
of the Cherokee language. He also designed the methods of using this technology to help Native teachers and parents bring back the languages
to the home. With input from language teachers such as Terry Brockie (Gros Ventre from Montana) and Keon Weaselhead (Kainai Blackfoot from
Alberta, Canada), who have been using this tool for more than two years, they created a set of new training methods for Thornton Media's clients
to use this tool to help revitalize the Native languages. Our team now travels around Indian Country and continues to serve it's Native clients, some
with average computer skills, to build a strong database of their language(s). Native communities can record with their elders and can start
teaching language the very same day.
of the Cherokee language. He also designed the methods of using this technology to help Native teachers and parents bring back the languages
to the home. With input from language teachers such as Terry Brockie (Gros Ventre from Montana) and Keon Weaselhead (Kainai Blackfoot from
Alberta, Canada), who have been using this tool for more than two years, they created a set of new training methods for Thornton Media's clients
to use this tool to help revitalize the Native languages. Our team now travels around Indian Country and continues to serve it's Native clients, some
with average computer skills, to build a strong database of their language(s). Native communities can record with their elders and can start
teaching language the very same day.
"TMI's clients were demanding a more flexible
product at a lower price. By August 2008 the
decision was made to stop selling the defense
technology because of rising prices and other
issues."
product at a lower price. By August 2008 the
decision was made to stop selling the defense
technology because of rising prices and other
issues."
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday,
March 05, 2008
Published Wednesday,
March 05, 2008
A New Beginning...
With Award Winning Products!
We continue to listen to our client's needs. TMI's clients were demanding a more flexible product at a lower price. By mid-2009, Thornton
Media developed the Language Pal software to program Nintendo DSi specifically for language teaching. By August 2008, the decision
was made to stop selling the defense technology because of rising prices and other issues. Thornton Media also responded by programming
smaller hand-helds, creating iPod Touch/iPhone Apps, with many more features at a very low cost. Thornton Media will continue to finance
the creation of programmable open-source software that would be available to tribes at no cost.
The technology won Best Serious Game and
Product of the Year award*
With Award Winning Products!
We continue to listen to our client's needs. TMI's clients were demanding a more flexible product at a lower price. By mid-2009, Thornton
Media developed the Language Pal software to program Nintendo DSi specifically for language teaching. By August 2008, the decision
was made to stop selling the defense technology because of rising prices and other issues. Thornton Media also responded by programming
smaller hand-helds, creating iPod Touch/iPhone Apps, with many more features at a very low cost. Thornton Media will continue to finance
the creation of programmable open-source software that would be available to tribes at no cost.
The technology won Best Serious Game and
Product of the Year award*
In 2007 TMI also worked with Alelo Inc. to produce a pilot
version of a 3-D video language game called RezWorld™.
The pilot version was created in the Cherokee language
but the game is adaptable to any language.
*The Technology Council of Southern California presented
Alelo's Tactical Iraqi Language & Culture Training System
with the Product of the Year award. (February 2008)
*Tactical Iraqi wins Best Serious Game at I/ITSEC Serious
Games Showcase & Challenge
December 2007
version of a 3-D video language game called RezWorld™.
The pilot version was created in the Cherokee language
but the game is adaptable to any language.
*The Technology Council of Southern California presented
Alelo's Tactical Iraqi Language & Culture Training System
with the Product of the Year award. (February 2008)
*Tactical Iraqi wins Best Serious Game at I/ITSEC Serious
Games Showcase & Challenge
December 2007
"Language Tools for Indian Country"
Our Story:
Thornton Media Inc. was created in 1995 when TMI adapted
a line of (Neurosmith, Inc.) language toys for use as
revitalization tools for American Indian tribes. The toys
included NDN Linguist and NDN Number Block and 25 tribes
purchased the toys for their language programs.
Years ago while visiting his grandma Lucinda Robbins in
Tahlequah, Oklahoma, CEO Don Thornton purchased a
Cherokee-English Dictionary written by a professor from the
local University. When he showed the dictionary to his
grandma, she commented in a frail but angry voice: "That
man used to come to my house for three years asking how to
say words in Cherokee. Pretty soon it would be lists of
phrases. I fixed his lists for three years and all I wanted was a
copy of the finished work but never received one." Don
flipped through the pages of the entire dictionary looking for
her name but Lucinda Robbin's name was nowhere to be
found. She was not credited for her work, not only that, she
was never paid and did not even receive a copy of the work.
Thornton Media Inc. was created in 1995 when TMI adapted
a line of (Neurosmith, Inc.) language toys for use as
revitalization tools for American Indian tribes. The toys
included NDN Linguist and NDN Number Block and 25 tribes
purchased the toys for their language programs.
Years ago while visiting his grandma Lucinda Robbins in
Tahlequah, Oklahoma, CEO Don Thornton purchased a
Cherokee-English Dictionary written by a professor from the
local University. When he showed the dictionary to his
grandma, she commented in a frail but angry voice: "That
man used to come to my house for three years asking how to
say words in Cherokee. Pretty soon it would be lists of
phrases. I fixed his lists for three years and all I wanted was a
copy of the finished work but never received one." Don
flipped through the pages of the entire dictionary looking for
her name but Lucinda Robbin's name was nowhere to be
found. She was not credited for her work, not only that, she
was never paid and did not even receive a copy of the work.
