The Biden-Harris administration unveiled a 10-year National Plan on Native Revitalization at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit. This plan aims to support the revitalization, protection, preservation, and reclamation of Indigenous languages across the United States. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland emphasized the crucial role of these languages in Indigenous cultures, lifeways, and identity, connecting people to their ancestors, homelands, and place in the world.
The National Plan, a collaborative effort between various government agencies, addresses the government’s role in the historical loss of Indigenous languages within Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Secretary Haaland described the plan as a commitment to rectify past wrongs and restore what has been lost. The plan stems from the Department of the Interior’s work to confront the systematic policies of forced assimilation and language eradication implemented through the Federal Indian Boarding School system. The report accompanying the plan asserts that congressional authorization and funding are crucial to reducing the number of endangered languages and increasing the number of proficient speakers, as defined by Native Americans themselves.
The Department of the Interior’s 2021 Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, which produced two reports detailing the devastating impact of the boarding school system, provides context for the National Plan. President Biden’s formal apology for the government’s role in these policies further underscores the urgency of the situation. The report warns that without congressional action, fewer than 20 Indigenous languages may remain in use by 2050, out of the 167 currently spoken.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra highlighted the importance of language in preserving history, knowledge, and traditions, emphasizing that investing in language revitalization strengthens communities. The plan prioritizes supporting Indigenous language efforts in academia and investing in core content instruction in Indigenous languages to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous youth.
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona championed multilingualism, including Native American languages, sharing his experiences learning words in several Indigenous languages during his travels. He stressed the deep connection between reclaiming Native languages and cultural identity, while acknowledging the historical injustices aimed at eradicating these languages. He expressed hope that the National Plan represents a step towards government remediation for its role in the harm caused by the Federal Indian Boarding School policies.
The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), which funds 187 schools for Indigenous students, only received funding for language revitalization starting in 2017, with annual appropriations never exceeding $7.5 million. As part of the summit, a $7.5 million cooperative agreement with the National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education was announced to support the launch or expansion of language immersion programs in BIE schools. This funding, coupled with the National Plan, aims to create a comprehensive strategy for protecting and reclaiming Indigenous languages.
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