Post by blackcrowheart on Dec 18, 2006 11:46:00 GMT -5
President
Signs Native Language Bill Into Law
----------------------------------------------------------
President Signs Native Language Bill Into Law
by Alaska Native Knowledge Network - Thursday, December 14 2006, 03:33 PM
----------------------------------------------------------
National Indian Education Association
110 Maryland Avenue, N.E.
Suite 104
Washington, D.C. 20002
P: (202) 544-7290 / F: (202) 544-7293
December 14, 2006
Broadcast #06-071
President Signs Native Language Bill Into Law
President Bush signed the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Act of
2006
into law today, December 14, 2006. Below is the press release from Rep.
Heather
Wilson, (R- NM), who introduced the bill in February 2006.
News Release
New Mexico Congressional Delegation
For Immediate Release DECEMBER 14, 2006
President Signs Esther Martinez Native Languages Preservation Act
Act Preserves Heritage & Honors Life of Tewa Storyteller
WASHINGTON - The New Mexico Congressional Delegation today announced that
President Bush has signed into law the Esther Martinez Native Languages
Preservation Act.
The new law helps prevent the loss of an important part of New Mexico's
heritage, the Native American languages that are rapidly disappearing. The
bill, written and introduced by Congresswoman Heather Wilson in February,
was
passed by the House in September and the Senate earlier this month with the
support of the entire New Mexico delegation.
"These languages will be preserved with attention and effort. Once lost,
they
will never be recovered," Wilson said. "The native languages were precious
to
Esther Martinez, and this bill is designed to help preserve them. It is a
fitting tribute to her life's work."
"This bill is a tremendous way to honor the memory of Esther Martinez. It
aims
to preserve the unique linguistic heritage of Native Americans, and I'm
pleased
to see it become law," said U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, who worked to ensure
passage in the Senate.
"For many years, tribes were discouraged from speaking their native
languages
and now many languages have disappeared. This legislation will help ensure
native languages are preserved, and passed on to future generations," U.S.
Senator Jeff Bingaman said.
"Considering Esther's dedication to preserving her native language, it is a
fitting tribute that this legislation be named after her," said Rep. Tom
Udall.
"The urgent need to protect and preserve Native American languages is clear.
We
must invest in their preservation by implementing immersion programs. This
legislation is an important step toward reversing the trend of disappearing
native languages. I would like to congratulate Congresswoman Wilson on this
legislation being signed into law, and thank her for her efforts on this
important issue."
"This innovative and timely legislation helps stem an impending tragedy for
our
nation; the rapid decline and potential loss of Native American languages,"
said Rep. Steve Pearce, also a co-sponsor of the legislation. "I commend
Rep.
Wilson for her leadership in reconnecting younger generations of Native
Americans to the language and culture of their ancestors while preserving an
irreplaceable treasure for every American."
The bill was designated in honor of Esther Martinez of New Mexico, following
her death in September. On September 14, Esther Martinez of Ohkay Owingeh
was
awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in Washington, DC. She died at 94
years
of age in Espanola en route home after attending a ceremony at the National
Endowment for the Arts.
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. New Mexico is
home
to 19 different pueblos and 3 tribes. Among the tribes and pueblos, there
are
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.
The bill authorizes competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services 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, and increase the support for Native American
language
immersion programs to create fluent speakers, and allow tribes and pueblos
to
develop their own immersion programs.
Sincerely,
NIEA Board of Directors and Staff
Signs Native Language Bill Into Law
----------------------------------------------------------
President Signs Native Language Bill Into Law
by Alaska Native Knowledge Network - Thursday, December 14 2006, 03:33 PM
----------------------------------------------------------
National Indian Education Association
110 Maryland Avenue, N.E.
Suite 104
Washington, D.C. 20002
P: (202) 544-7290 / F: (202) 544-7293
December 14, 2006
Broadcast #06-071
President Signs Native Language Bill Into Law
President Bush signed the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Act of
2006
into law today, December 14, 2006. Below is the press release from Rep.
Heather
Wilson, (R- NM), who introduced the bill in February 2006.
News Release
New Mexico Congressional Delegation
For Immediate Release DECEMBER 14, 2006
President Signs Esther Martinez Native Languages Preservation Act
Act Preserves Heritage & Honors Life of Tewa Storyteller
WASHINGTON - The New Mexico Congressional Delegation today announced that
President Bush has signed into law the Esther Martinez Native Languages
Preservation Act.
The new law helps prevent the loss of an important part of New Mexico's
heritage, the Native American languages that are rapidly disappearing. The
bill, written and introduced by Congresswoman Heather Wilson in February,
was
passed by the House in September and the Senate earlier this month with the
support of the entire New Mexico delegation.
"These languages will be preserved with attention and effort. Once lost,
they
will never be recovered," Wilson said. "The native languages were precious
to
Esther Martinez, and this bill is designed to help preserve them. It is a
fitting tribute to her life's work."
"This bill is a tremendous way to honor the memory of Esther Martinez. It
aims
to preserve the unique linguistic heritage of Native Americans, and I'm
pleased
to see it become law," said U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, who worked to ensure
passage in the Senate.
"For many years, tribes were discouraged from speaking their native
languages
and now many languages have disappeared. This legislation will help ensure
native languages are preserved, and passed on to future generations," U.S.
Senator Jeff Bingaman said.
"Considering Esther's dedication to preserving her native language, it is a
fitting tribute that this legislation be named after her," said Rep. Tom
Udall.
"The urgent need to protect and preserve Native American languages is clear.
We
must invest in their preservation by implementing immersion programs. This
legislation is an important step toward reversing the trend of disappearing
native languages. I would like to congratulate Congresswoman Wilson on this
legislation being signed into law, and thank her for her efforts on this
important issue."
"This innovative and timely legislation helps stem an impending tragedy for
our
nation; the rapid decline and potential loss of Native American languages,"
said Rep. Steve Pearce, also a co-sponsor of the legislation. "I commend
Rep.
Wilson for her leadership in reconnecting younger generations of Native
Americans to the language and culture of their ancestors while preserving an
irreplaceable treasure for every American."
The bill was designated in honor of Esther Martinez of New Mexico, following
her death in September. On September 14, Esther Martinez of Ohkay Owingeh
was
awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in Washington, DC. She died at 94
years
of age in Espanola en route home after attending a ceremony at the National
Endowment for the Arts.
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. New Mexico is
home
to 19 different pueblos and 3 tribes. Among the tribes and pueblos, there
are
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.
The bill authorizes competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services 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, and increase the support for Native American
language
immersion programs to create fluent speakers, and allow tribes and pueblos
to
develop their own immersion programs.
Sincerely,
NIEA Board of Directors and Staff