President Obama Visited ND Last June, Where He Heard from Children from Lakota Language Nest, which is Helped by Language Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and steadfast supporter of tribal language programs, today announced her support for legislation to reauthorize and strengthen Native languages in tribal communities in North Dakota and across the country.

The Esther Martinez Native American Preservation Act of 2015 would work to protect and strengthen the program which provides federal funding to tribes and Native American educational organizations with the goal of preserving often endangered Native languages in Native communities. During a time when 37 percent of Native children live in poverty and only half graduate from high school, language immersion programs have been shown to build pride in Native American cultures and languages, boost morale, and improve students’ academic performance and attendance.

The bipartisan bill would reauthorize the Native American Languages Program – first enacted in 2006 – until 2020. The bill would strengthen existing efforts by Native language nests, Native language survival schools, and Native American language restoration programs to potentially benefit and sustain North Dakota language programs, like those that include Lak?ól’iyapi Ho?pí (Lakota Language Nest) at Standing Rock, Wakanheza oti (Sacred Children's Place) at Spirit Lake, Tiny Turtles preschool at Turtle Mountain.

“The spoken language of our Native people is the thread that weaves together generations, enriching tribal communities and strengthening their sovereignty and culture,” said Heitkamp. “Throughout North Dakota, we have seen the benefits of working with tribes to enable Native children to learn in and preserve their Native languages – helping them understand their history and culture while also giving them the tools needed to learn and grow. This bipartisan bill will enable these critical programs to continue to give Native American children the cultural foundation they deserve while also helping to make sure their sacred bonds and ancestral stories are protected and strengthened for future generations.”

Heitkamp has long been committed to policies that promote and sustain tribal languages. In March 2014, Heitkamp supported the creation of a grant program to support Native language immersion instruction from pre-Kindergarten through college. The Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act was recently included within the Senate Elementary and Secondary  Education Act reauthorization language – the Every Child Achieves Act – as a Committee amendment and would benefit groups in North Dakota including such the Lak?ól’iyapi Ho?pí (Lakota Language Nest) at Standing Rock, Wakanheza oti (Sacred Children's Place) at Spirit Lake, and Tiny Turtles preschool at Turtle Mountain, which often face hurdles hiring qualified staff and purchasing relevant curriculum.

Last June, Heitkamp welcomed President Obama to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota to showcase the tribe’s history and culture. During his visit, Heitkamp discussed the ways in which the federal government can better work with tribal nations to improve conditions and opportunities for Native children and families, including through the advancement of Native language preservation programs.

Without such programs to preserve Native American languages and culture in Indian Country, these languages could disappear forever.

###