Native American Languages Act

Native American Languages Act
U.S. Government · Public domain · source
Short title	Native American Languages Act
Enacted by	United States Congress
Date enacted	1990
Date signed	October 30, 1990
Signed by	George H. W. Bush

Native American Languages Act is a federal law that aims to preserve and promote the languages of Native American tribes, such as the Navajo Nation, Cherokee Nation, and Seminole Tribe of Florida. The law recognizes the importance of indigenous languages in the cultural and spiritual heritage of Native American communities, including the Hopi Tribe, Zuni Tribe, and Tohono O'odham Nation. It also acknowledges the significant role of languages like Lakota, Ojibwe, and Inupiat in the history and identity of Native American tribes, such as the Sioux Nation, Chippewa Tribe, and Inupiat Tribe. The law is part of a broader effort to support Native American rights, similar to the Indian Reorganization Act and the Tribal Self-Governance Act, which have been championed by organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund.

Introduction

The Native American Languages Act was introduced in response to the decline of indigenous languages in the United States, which has been exacerbated by factors like assimilation policies, boarding schools, and urbanization, as experienced by Native American communities such as the Pueblo people, Iroquois Confederacy, and Creek Nation. The law recognizes the importance of language preservation and revitalization efforts, such as those undertaken by the Endangered Languages Project, First Peoples Fund, and Native American Language Center, which have been supported by institutions like the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Science Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution. It also acknowledges the significant contributions of linguists like Noam Chomsky, Edward Sapir, and Franz Boas, who have worked with Native American languages like Navajo, Inuktitut, and Hawaiian. Furthermore, the law draws on the expertise of organizations like the Linguistic Society of America, American Anthropological Association, and Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas, which have been involved in language documentation and preservation efforts.

Legislative History

The Native American Languages Act was passed by the United States Congress in 1990, with the support of lawmakers like Senator Daniel Inouye, Representative Morris Udall, and Representative John McCain, who have been advocates for Native American rights and language preservation. The law was signed into effect by President George H. W. Bush on October 30, 1990, and has since been amended and expanded to include provisions like the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act, which was sponsored by Senator Tom Udall and Representative Heather Wilson. The legislative history of the law reflects the ongoing efforts of Native American communities, linguists, and policy makers to address the challenges facing indigenous languages, such as language shift, language loss, and cultural erasure, as experienced by Native American tribes like the Apache Tribe, Comanche Nation, and Kiowa Tribe. The law has also been influenced by international agreements like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognize the importance of language rights and cultural rights for indigenous peoples.

Provisions and Goals

The Native American Languages Act has several key provisions and goals, including the establishment of the Native American Languages Program, which provides funding and support for language preservation and language revitalization efforts, such as those undertaken by the Native American Language Center and the Endangered Languages Project. The law also recognizes the importance of language education and language immersion programs, such as those offered by the Navajo Nation, Cherokee Nation, and Seminole Tribe of Florida, which have been supported by institutions like the Bureau of Indian Education and the National Museum of the American Indian. Additionally, the law aims to promote the use of indigenous languages in government services, education, and media, as well as to support the development of language materials and language resources, such as dictionaries, grammars, and language learning software, which have been created by organizations like the Linguistic Society of America and the Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas. The law has been influenced by the work of linguists like William Sturtevant, Ives Goddard, and Marianne Mithun, who have worked on language documentation and language preservation projects.

Impact and Implementation

The Native American Languages Act has had a significant impact on language preservation and language revitalization efforts in the United States, with many Native American communities and organizations benefiting from the law's provisions and funding, such as the Native American Language Center, Endangered Languages Project, and First Peoples Fund. The law has also led to the development of new language programs and language resources, such as language immersion schools, language camps, and language learning software, which have been supported by institutions like the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Science Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution. Furthermore, the law has raised awareness about the importance of indigenous languages and language rights, and has inspired similar efforts in other countries, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which have been influenced by international agreements like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The law has also been recognized by organizations like the Linguistic Society of America, American Anthropological Association, and Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas, which have been involved in language documentation and preservation efforts.

Criticisms and Challenges

Despite its positive impact, the Native American Languages Act has faced criticisms and challenges, including concerns about the law's effectiveness, funding, and implementation, as well as the need for greater support and resources for language preservation and language revitalization efforts, as highlighted by organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund. Some critics have argued that the law does not go far enough in addressing the historical and ongoing challenges facing indigenous languages, such as language shift, language loss, and cultural erasure, as experienced by Native American tribes like the Apache Tribe, Comanche Nation, and Kiowa Tribe. Others have pointed out the need for greater coordination and collaboration between government agencies, Native American communities, and linguists to ensure the law's provisions are effectively implemented and its goals are achieved, as recommended by institutions like the Bureau of Indian Education and the National Museum of the American Indian. Additionally, the law has been influenced by the work of scholars like Dell Hymes, William Bright, and Leanne Hinton, who have written about the importance of language preservation and language revitalization for indigenous communities. Category:Language preservation