Teaching Indigenous Languages

This 2021 volume presents a broad range of new and established voices and perspectives on the future of Indigenous languages in North America. The contributors tackle a range of themes including: Indigenous language sustainability, Indigenous language advocacy, Collaborative language work, The role of Indigenous scholars in academia, Indigenous student experiences, Indigenous epistemology and research methodology as well as Indigenous language teacher training, teaching and assessment methods and practices, policy and planning, resource and collection development, learning in urban settings, and in the digital age. The contributions share a common concern with ways in which communities, activists, teachers and scholars can best join forces to work toward the goal of creating sustainable futures for Indigenous languages. Dr. Janine Pease noted in her review of Sustaining Indigenous Languages in the summer 2022 issue of Tribal College that it's "a fascinating read, whether you have a general interest in Indigenous languages, are a second language learner, a master teacher of Indigenous language, or a tribal language planner.... No matter where you come from, your reason for reading, or your level of Indigenous language expertise, I highly recommend this volume for your bookshelf as a reference on sustaining Indigenous languages."

This 2009 book includes papers on the challenges faced by linguists working in Indigenous communities, Maori and Hawaiian revitalization efforts, the use of technology in language revitalization, and Indigenous language assessment. Of particular interest are Darrell Kipp's introductory essay on the challenges faced starting and maintaining a small immersion school and Margaret Noori's description of the satisfaction garnered from raising her children as speakers of her Anishinaabemowin language. Dr. Christine Sims writes in her American Indian Quarterly review that it "covers a broad variety of topics and information that will be of interest to practitioners, researchers, and advocates of Indigenous languages." 214 pp. + viii. ISBN 0-9670554-4-X.

This 2003 book focuses on immersion language teaching methods, the use of technology in language revitalization, and other topics related to current efforts among Indigenous peoples to reclaim their linguistic and cultural heritages so they can live better lives in our modern world. 178 pp. + xii. ISBN 0-9670554-3-1.

Twenty-seven papers describing indigenous language efforts in Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Russia, and the Caribbean. They are divided into six sections: Broad perspectives and policy, language and whole community development, educational advances, languages and literacy development, the media, and the meeting of Inuit and Yupik participants. They discuss issues such as bilingual education, adult education, literacy, teacher training, orthography and dictionary development, the role of religion and culture, and language planning and advocacy strategies. 263 pp. + viii. ISBN 0-9670554-2-3.

The title Learn in Beauty is adapted from a traditional Navajo prayer that calls for listeners to "walk in beauty" and live in harmony with their world. The 11 papers collected here indicate some of the new directions that indigenous education is taking at the beginning of the 21st century. Since the 1970s the U.S. Government has had an official policy of self-determination for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The efforts by various Native groups to chart their own destinies have resulted in both successes and failures, and education is just one aspect of their efforts. It is hoped that the discussion of indigenous education in this volume contributes to the progress of indigenous education. 152 pp. + viii. ISBN 0-9670554-1-5.

This 1999 paperback book contains a selection of 11 papers presented at the Fifth Annual Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Symposium "Strategies for Language Renewal and Revitalization" held in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1998. The papers discuss opportunities and obstacles faced by language revitalization efforts, programs and models for promoting indigenous languages, the role of writing in indigenous language renewal, and how new technology is being used to compile indigenous language dictionaries, publish indigenous language materials, and link together dispersed language communities. 140  pp. + xx. ISBN 0-9670554-0-7. This book is available "full text" at this web site and through ERIC: ED428922.

This 1997 paperback book contains a selection of papers presented at the Fourth Annual Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Symposium "Sharing Effective Language Renewal Practices" held at Northern Arizona University in 1997. The 25 papers collect here represent the experiences and thoughts of indigenous language activists who are working in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico. They are grouped under six categories: tribal and school roles, teaching students, teacher education, curriculum and materials development, language attitudes and promotion, and a summing up of thoughts about maintaining and renewing indigenous languages. 323 pp. + xii. ISBN 0-9624990-3-X. This book is available "full text" at this web site and through ERIC: ED415058.

This 1996 book is the proceedings of two symposia held in 1994 and 1995 at Northern Arizona University that brought together language activists, tribal educators, and experts on linguistics, language renewal, and language teaching to discuss policy changes, educational reforms, and community initiatives to stabilize and revitalize American Indian and Alaska Native languages. It includes a survey of the historical, current, and projected status of indigenous languages in the United States as well as extensive information on the roles of families, communities, and schools in promoting their use and maintenance. It includes descriptions of successful native language programs and papers by leaders in the field of indigenous language study, including Joshua Fishman and Michael Krauss. 240 pp. + xvi. ISBN 0-9624990-1-3. This book is also on ERIC microfiche (ED395728) in most university libraries in the United States.

This 1990 book contains 11 papers from the 1989 Native American Language Issues (NALI) Institute held in Billings, Montana. The papers contain descriptions of promising Native language programs in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. This book is out of print, however it is available full text on this site except for chapter six. It is also available on microfiche in most university libraries in the United States--ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED342512. 154 pp. + vi.