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| Preserving Indian Languages |
September 01, 2006 |
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We have a unique cultural heritage in New Mexico. We`re also committed to preserving it.
Our Native American languages are a rich part of that heritage, and they are dying. For centuries, they`ve been passed on generation to generation. Sadly, only an estimated 20 of more than 300 pre-colonial indigenous languages will remain by the year 2050. In 1996, 175 of these languages remained, but now we`re losing them at a rate of 12 languages every 3 years.
Last year, I was approached by leaders of several Pueblos. They`re concerned, but they`re also committed to doing something about it.
On Thursday, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a field hearing to listen to New Mexico`s tribes and pueblos and their concerns.
The room at the Pueblo Cultural Center was packed. That showed the Committee that people care about this.
In February, I introduced the Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006 and began working to raise awareness in Congress.
Our state is home to 19 different pueblos and 3 tribes. Among the tribes and pueblos, we have six major languages, plus varying dialects. Language is a key element of each community`s identity.
A recent survey of Native languages found that among the Lipan Apache on the Mescalero reservation in southern New Mexico there are just ten speakers of the native language remaining. At the Sandia Pueblo, north of Albuquerque, most of their Native speakers are middle aged or older. Even Navajo, spoken more than any other Native Language in the U.S., is spoken fluently by less than half of the Navajo children entering kindergarten.
We made sure that Congress heard from New Mexico witnesses who are working to save these languages, and I thought it was important that people have an opportunity to be a part of the discussion.
My bill, H.R. 4766, authorizes competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Education to establish Native American language "nests" for students under the age of seven and their families. It supports Native American language survival schools.
It will help to preserve all the indigenous languages that are still being spoken. We`ll increase the support for Native American language immersion programs to create fluent speakers, and allow tribes and pueblos to develop their own immersion programs.
These languages will not be preserved without attention and effort, and once lost, will never be recovered.
Good to be home,
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