Around the world, educators and scholars are coming together throughout the summer at special conferences and institutes to explore new ways to protect, maintain, and transmit Indigenous languages.
Our partner presses publish expert titles in the field of language preservation. "Teaching Oregon Native Languages" from Oregon State University Press
During the past two weeks participants at the American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI), held in Tucson, Arizona, have been investigating ways to use technology to advance their work. “During AILDI each summer, Indigenous language warriors from all over gather to learn, share, and prepare to fight to keep our Indigenous languages alive,” says AILDI faculty member Stacey Oberly, a member of the Southern Ute tribe working on native language revitalization.
To further this goal, sessions at AILDI are focused squarely on innovative techniques that directly impact the way educators work, and they are taking local examples from global sources. One session for a cohort of practitioners from Indigenous communities in Mexico are learning how to use Microsoft Publisher to develop low cost, but effective, educational materials.
The Tohono O’odham Community College cohort looked across the Pacific Ocean for new frameworks, curriculum, and assessment tools. They sponsored scholar Katarina Edmonds, PhD , to come from New Zealand to AILDI to share her experiences as both a native speaker of Māori, as well as a leading teacher and scholar of the teaching of the language. Together each afternoon for almost two weeks, the group has discussed ways the Māori have worked to get people involved in education and on a path to continue and maintain their language. Edmonds has underscored the importance of constant assessment in the development and implementation of Native language programs. “I cannot stress how important it is to know where your language is,” she said.
"Native American Language Ideologies" from University of Arizona Press
The sharing has been multi-directional with Edmonds learning alongside institute participants, “We’re still concerned. The Māori language is not safe so everything we can do is important.”
ALDI is just one of many language institutes held this summer. Other conferences include:
Approaches to Teaching Lakota Culture
June 21-July 9
Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies
Breath of Life Workshop for the Native Languages of California
June 6-12
University of California at Berekely
Indigenous Language Institute
Ongoing workshops
Northwest Indian Language Institute
June 21-July 30
University of Oregon
"The Mishomis Book" from University of Minnesota Press
Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Symposium (co-convened with the International Conference on Salish and Neighboring Languages, the Athabascan/Dene Languages Conference, and the Hokan-Penutian Languages Conference)
June 17-20
University of Oregon
Save Your Language Conference
June 5-6
Vancouver, BC
Foundation for Endangered Languages conference
September 13-15
University of Wales
There are also numerous organizations and web resources to turn to for help in language preservation. Here are just a few:
MIT Indigenous Language Initiative
The Three Rivers Language Center
Katherine Regional Language Center
Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Center
Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity
There is so much good work being done out there and we’d love to hear about more. If you know of another language conference, symposium, or organization that doesn’t appear on the lists above, please let us know about it. Also, we’d love to hear from you about your experiences at language revitalization gatherings, or work you’re doing in your community. Send us your stories and, if we receive enough, we’ll publish them here later this summer.
June 18th, 2010 at 10:25 am
I’m a volunteer for the Endangered Language Fund, a small nonprofit organization based in New Haven, CT that provides grants in support of language documentation and revitalization efforts. I would like to thank you for posting this article and raising awareness of these events and organizations. I’ve posted a link to the article on our facebook page, which can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Endangered-Language-Fund/187418285372, and added your page to our favorites. Again, thank you for your efforts!