Legislation of deep emotional and symbolic meaning to indigenous people has passed Congress after intense lobbying by Indian people. The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act was passed by the House at the end of September and by the Senate in December, a couple of days before the end of the 109th Congress. It provides more funds and encourages new programs.
The legislation accomplishes two important preservation matters. As Senator John McCain (R-AZ) summarized it, “It reauthorizes the Native American Programs Act of 1974 through 2012 and provides a [competitive] grant program to ensure the survival and vitality of Native-American languages.” As head of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, McCain supported the bill. The bill was introduced though by Representative Heather Wilson (R-NM). She was the champion of H.R. 4766 in the House. The same number carried over to the Senate.
New projects such as language nests, survival schools, and language restoration programs can now be started, expanded, or replicated in new communities and tribes. The new grants build on successful innovations in the field
Those in the educational community understand the historical and cultural importance of retaining unique and ancestral languages. Those in the religious community understand how language is important in the way it shapes a world view, values, and spiritual ceremonies. The efforts by groups as far flung as the Mohawks, Maori, and Native Hawaiians have led the way to language revitalization. This global movement can be put into a larger context.
Millions of Americans respond warmly to the song “Tradition” from the famous musical Fiddler on the Roof. It is widely understood that Jewish families have valued the spoken language Yiddish and put intense efforts into keeping the ancient Hebrew language alive as part of their heritage. It is less understood how much indigenous peoples want to preserve cherished languages that connect them with nature, tribal histories, and the values of ancestors. Native American leaders who can speak their traditional language are held in high regard by their peers.
Background
The new legislation provides assistance to on-going heritage language restoration efforts through a current authorized discretionary Native language grant program at the Administration for Native Americans at the Department of Health and Human Services. Its purpose is to create Native language fluency as opposed to other kinds of language grants, for example those that support technology as a tool to learn written languages. Despite its modest cost and widely supported emphasis, passage of H.R. 4766 was far from assured.
Famed Code Talkers Language Preservation Bill
In November, three Navajo code talkers went to Washington to urge preservation of traditional languages. Code talkers are famous for employing their unique language during World War II to keep critical military transmitted messages secret. Ryan Wilson of the National Alliance to Save Native Languages noted the advanced age of the three men:
“These ‘living treasures’ have chosen to use their remaining breaths in life to give life once again to Native languages.”
As people who had received Congressional Gold Medals from President Bush, the three hoped they could influence members of the administration and the Senate. Under the leadership of Representative Wilson (R-NM), the House had already voted for the legislation, a significant achievement for Native advocates and a respectful decision by legislators.
Their goal was to pass the Esther Martinez Native American Language Act of 2006 in the Senate. The bill is named for a recently deceased elder who conserved the Tewa language and was honored by the National Endowment for the Arts as a National Heritage Fellow. The legislation expands an existing program and would provide grants for teacher training and language immersion. Halting the loss of Native languages is both a scholarly and personal matter. Increasing interest in native languages often builds self-confidence, promotes interest in school, creates inter-generational relationships, and encourages fluent speakers to teach linguists. As stated above, the bill did eventually pass; however, there was strong opposition to it for months. The Senate had been poised to pass H.R. 4766 by unanimous consent until several senators put holds on the bill, which meant their objections had to satisfied to move forward.
Opposition to Programs to Maintain Living Languages
Why would anyone object to a benign and modest program to retain native languages? A September column in the conservative National Review Online argued against teaching unwritten languages and “bi-lingual” education for young Indian children who need to improve their English instead, especially with taxpayer money. Native leaders have heard similar arguments from some Senate staffers who seem unaware that almost all Native Americans speak English; their ancestral language would be additive. Moreover, a prominent English-only organization, U.S.ENGLISH, supports funding to study and preserve native languages. Opposition based on such arguments is specious.
Since 1983...it has been the policy of U.S.ENGLISH to fully support the rights of Native Americans to preserve their heritage, culture, and language. Those rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution, as well as federal and state laws.
U.S.ENGLISH recognizes that Native American languages are in a unique situation. These languages were spoken by Native Americans before Europeans arrived on this continent. They are not spoken anywhere else in the world, and if they are not preserved, they will disappear completely. The autonomy of Native American tribes and communities also gives them a special status within the political framework of the United States.
Therefore, Official English legislation proposed by U.S.ENGLISH does not prevent the use of Native American languages by tribal governments and other autonomous Native American communities, such as Alaska Native villages. Furthermore, U.S.ENGLISH supports government funding for the study of Native American languages in order to preserve them for future generations.
While FCNL opposes English-only legislation, our point is that opposition based on such arguments is a red herring and the statement explains why.
A few Senators had specific concerns beyond English-only objections to language immersion programs and consequently to this bill. People often wonder if a school teaches one language in the morning and another in the afternoon whether the students will be disadvantaged. One concern was whether it would make sense to maintain oral languages and especially those with very few speakers. Another was whether parents would feel left out or could not be of help if they could not speak their Native language while the family elders and youngsters knew the language. These concerns were addressed during conversations between key staffers and Indian leaders.
At the end of the congressional legislative process, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) rose to ask about and to be reassured about two aspects of the bill. “I would like to know if it is the intent that this legislation ... will require that grants for Native language survival schools require parental permission for the student to participate in the program and also that the students participating in the program demonstrated adequate English proficiency according to grade level. He was reassured by McCain.
Support for Cultural and Language Preservation
Fundamentally different in character from other components of American society, Indian tribes are living cultures that can contribute and be strengthened only through the perpetuation of their traditions.
Regrettably, in the past many religious organizations, including Quakers, ran boarding schools that suppressed native languages. Today, religious groups sometimes support legislation to revitalize languages valued by American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Languages are at the heart of a culture-- shaping world views and spiritual understandings. Traditional languages are intertwined with spiritual ceremonies and practices and bring a wholeness not only to tribes but to our larger society.
Globally, human rights and indigenous rights groups strongly support preservation of languages. Some at the United Nations have been involved. The importance of educating youth in their own cultures, as well as using indigenous languages to educate them, has been stressed during discussions on culture and education at meetings of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
For more information on bill as well as organizations and programs involved in language preservation, see
THOMAS (Library of Congress)
Website of Rep. Heather Wilson (NM)
More on Esther Martinez
The Indigenous Language Institute
The Indigenous Language Institute Newsletter (Winter 2000) (PDF)
"Teaching American Indian and Alaska Native Languages in the Schools: What Has Been Learned." from ERIC Digest
National Indian Education Association (NIEA)
National Congress of American Indians