Miami Language Champion Daryl Baldwin Wins Prestigious 'Genius Grant'
Daryl Baldwin. Photo by John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Daryl Baldwin, a citizen of the Miami Nation, has won a prestigious "genius grant" from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Baldwin, a linguist, revived the Myaamia language and taught it to himself and his family. His efforts have grown from hosting language camps for youth to running the Myaamia Center at the Miami University in Ohio.
"How do you revive a language that has no speakers? Baldwin says in a video produced by the MacArthur Foundation. "I think there has to be a tremendous amount of ambition, curiosity, drive and willingness to simply try."
Baldwin is among 23 people recognized by the MacArthur Foundation this year. The award comes with a $625,000 grant.
Prior Indian Country recipients include Sarah Deer, Jessie Little Doe Baird, Sven Haakanson and the late Elouise Cobell, who was recognized in 1997.