Preserving Voices: Princess Bass-Mason '19 Champions Native Language Revitalization Through Film

Princess Bass-Mason ‘19 has found a passion for sharing stories through film. As a result of a connection made through the University of Oregon’s Native American Student Union, Princess made her first film on Klamath-Modoc-Yahooskin (Paiute) language revitalization with a borrowed camera and no budget.

“One of the reasons I wanted to make this documentary is because of the profound effects of forced assimilation on generations of Native Americans,” said Princess. “There has been a misconception in Native and non-Native communities that tribal languages are lost or can only be preserved, however, there are many language carriers and knowledge-keepers in different nations that use these languages in everyday life. Some nations are fluent to the point their main mode of communication is through their tribal language.”

As the only freshman attending Central Catholic from her middle school in the fall of 2015, Princess was initially unsure of her place in this new environment. She found her footing through friendships and involvement in activities like Film Club, Latino Student Union, varsity softball, and Constitution Team. These experiences helped her grow into an advocate and leader.

A member of the Klamath and Western Shoshone tribes, Princess’s positive experience through these groups gave her the inspiration to be a founding member of the Indigenous Student Union here at Central Catholic, a group she has continued to engage with even after graduation. “By my senior year, I felt more confident advocating for myself, as well as others,” she said.

Her time at Central Catholic also exposed her to volunteer work, Catholic traditions, and a structured environment she credits for shaping her academic and personal success. “Central Catholic provided a structure that I have come to appreciate in the realm of higher education and life.”

A film created to highlight the language revitalization and sustainability effort of indigenous languages in Oregon, Princess’s documentary features interviews with Klamath tribal members, including elders and linguists, celebrating ongoing language revitalization efforts. She conducted interviews at the Klamath Restoration Powwow and collaborated with key figures in the Klamath Tribes Language Department to tell an impactful story, one that she hopes to continue to tell through outside funding and upgrades to her film and editing equipment.

Now applying for grants to remaster her documentary, Princess aims to improve its quality and compensate interviewees. She also hopes to pursue a master’s degree in linguistics to further support Native language programs, particularly the Western Shoshone and Klamath.

“Although filmmaking will likely never be my day job, I want to highlight language revitalization, culture, and the immense potential of Native peoples.”