30 Years of the Native American Languages Act 

On Friday, October 30 we held a webinar to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Native American Languages Act, featuring a panel with longtime language activists David Beaulieau (White Earth Ojibwe), Ofelia Zepeda (Tohono O’Odham), and Gloria Sly (Cherokee). The panel was moderated by National Coalition President Leslie Harper (Leech Lake Ojibwe), founder of Niigane Ojibwemowin Immersion School.

This event was hosted by the National Coalition of Native American Language Schools and Programs. It was co-sponsored by ‘Aha Pūnana Leo, the University of Hawaii Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, the University of Montana’s Environmental Studies Program, and Saokio Heritage.

Though he could not join us, we were honored that Senator Tom Udall (New Mexico), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee, wrote a welcome letter for the event. He also made a public statement for the Congressional Record commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Native American Languages Act, which you can read here.

Watch the webinar here

Learn more about the Native American Languages Act & Community revitalization efforts:

Legislation:

Native American Languages Act of 1990 (pdf version from SILS)

Udall, Murkowski Mark 30th Anniversary of Native American Languages Act, Announce New Bipartisan Native American Language Bill, October 30, 2020.

Articles:

Native Language Schools Are Taking Back Education, Yes! Magazine, April 19, 2018. (article)

Aia Ia Kakou Na Ha‘ina - The Answers Are Within Us: Language Rights in Tandem with Language Survival, by Larry L. Kimura, Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. (article)

Native American Languages Act: Twenty Years Later, Has It Made a Difference? Cultural Survival, July 18, 2012. (article)

Videos:

First Speakers: Restoring the Ojibwe Language, PBS, 2010. (Emmy award-winning video).

Ola Ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi The Hawaiian Language Lives, Ōiwi TV, 2016. (video)