Legislation in support of Native American language revitalization programs, including grant funding, was advanced in early February by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee for consideration by the full Senate.
The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act, introduced on Jan. 29 by Senators Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Tom Udall, D-NM, would improve the grant program that funds a variety of language learning activities such as Native language immersion and language teacher training. The bill specifically reauthorizes the Native American Languages Preservation Act through fiscal year 2024, decreases the number of students required to participate in programs in order to receive funding, and makes it easier for smaller Alaska Native communities to receive language revitalization grant funds.
The bill would include $13 million for each fiscal year from 2020 through 2024 for the program, which includes Native language immersion programs in which instruction is provided to children and adults in a Native language, training language teachers, creating teaching materials and related activities.
The bill is named for Esther Martinez, a Tewa linguist and traditional storyteller from New Mexico, who published the San Juan Pueblo Tewa dictionary. Other Senate co-sponsors include Martin Heinrich, D-NM; Brian Schatz, D-HI; Jon Tester, D-MT; Elizabeth Warren, D-MA; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-NV; and Tina Smith, D-MN.
Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, is a co-sponsor of the companion bill introduced in the House.
The National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Education Association are supporters of the legislation.
“By maintaining and revitalizing the languages of our Alaska Native communities, we are strengthening and empowering these communities,” Murkowski said. “We know that revitalizing Native languages is integral to culture and identity. By removing some of the burdensome restrictions for schools and organizations receiving grant funding for Native language programs, this legislation ensures even the smallest populated communities have the resources they need to safeguard the survival of Native languages for generations to come.”
Murkowski noted that in places like Igiugig, Bethel, Juneau and dozens of communities across Alaska, Native language revitalization has played a big part in preparing students to be college, career and culturally ready while strengthening entire communities.
Current recipients of Esther Martinez grants include the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Chickaloon Native Village, Cook Inlet Tribal Council Inc. and the Yakutat Tlingit Tribes.
