![]() My own experience should not be the norm for any of our young Native children, yet the challenge remains. Thankfully, I am slowly reclaiming my language via weekend classes with the Comanche Nation language department. This was an embarrassing struggle for me as I always wanted to learn my language all throughout my K-12 experience. “Speaking from personal experience, I did not learn, and neither was I exposed to my own Native language in public school. ![]() Now more than ever it is critically important to assist Native communities with funding to protect and revitalize their languages. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on Native language communities, especially the elderly population, who are often fluent Native language speakers. Additionally, the Federal Indian boarding school system discouraged and prevented the use of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian languages. In the years leading up to the Native American Languages Act (NALA) of 1990, Native languages were largely excluded from classrooms across the country. There are now over 200 tribal communities without living speakers of their mother tongue. A major emphasis of this program is to fund both partial and full immersion programs in addition to developing new or expanding existing language programs. Native American language learning is fundamentally connected to the well-being and sustainability of Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Department of Education has announced approximately $1 million in grant funding available for Native American Language projects. Haa Mar uaweka (“Hello everyone,” in Comanche language)Īdvancing its commitment to maintaining, protecting, and revitalizing Native American languages – the U.S. By: Julian Guerrero, Director, Office of Indian Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
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