Mvskoke language keyboard now available for iPhone  

Image Courtesy: Damian Ward

(NATIONAL) Apple recently launched a Mvskoke language keyboard for iPhone users. The Mvskoke keyboard joins the Chickasha, Chahta, and Cherokee keyboards previously available, representing four of The Five…Tribes whose forced removal ended in the loss of their Peoples, cultures, and languages.  

Language is the root of cultures, traditions, and lifeways. Within the past few years there has been a concerted effort to preserve and revitalize Native languages that were almost lost due to the removal and assimilation policies of the United States government. The federal government has taken reparative steps in this preservation, with funds dedicated to the revival of Native languages provided for in The American Rescue Plan Act. In December 2024 the Biden administration also released a 10-Year National Plan on Native Language Revitalization. 

Mvskoke citizen Damian Ward, who also has developed a concept Mvskoke language keyboard not yet available, emphasizes the value of the continued use and modernization of Native dialects. 

“I believe the existence of a Mvskoke keyboard is so important because it makes our language feel more official,” states Ward. 

“I hope that with the existence of the keyboard, it opens the doors for Mvskoke to become used more digitally, encouraging the (Mvskoke Language Preservation Program) to make more words for the modern age, for example, battery, wi-fi, (and) charger."  

To access the keyboard iPhone users should update their software to the latest version. 

If available, the Mvskoke language keyboard can be found by tapping on settings->general->keyboard->keyboards->add new keyboard. The Mvskoke language keyboard can then be selected by scrolling down to the section for the letter M.