Post by blackcrowheart on May 17, 2007 13:32:41 GMT -5
Trying to preserve Native American language
Legislation would create a council
Danielle Cabot
ST. PAUL — As few as 15 fully fluent Dakota speakers reside in
Minnesota and perhaps as few as 50 fluent Ojibwe speakers, according to
Margaret Boyer of the Alliance of Early Childhood Professionals and the
Dakota Ojibwe Language Revitalization Alliance.
But a state council of stakeholders would be established to preserve and
promote education of these languages if a bill introduced in the House
on Thursday proves successful.
Particularly relevant to the this session's goals, this effort may
also be an effective way of closing the achievement gap that indigenous
students face.
The bill would create a Council on Indigenous Languages with
representatives of 32 stakeholders, including indigenous organizations,
academic institutions and 11 tribes. The council would direct
development of education programs for children and adults to learn how
to speak, read and write in endangered native languages.
The bill would also create an exception to allow few remaining fluent
speakers to teach the language without traditional state teaching
certification. No money requests have been established.
Many languages face extinction because they have not been passed on to
younger generations and stigmatized by "English Only" movements.
It's an issue that's got to be talked about," said
co-sponsor Rep. Mary Murphy DFL- Hermantown. "We have the
opportunity to capture these languages and pass them on."
House bill sponsor Rep. David Bly, DFL-Northfield, got involved through
his work with the Minnesota SEED Project promoting diversity training
among teachers. Bly also studied the efforts of the Canadian Mohawk
tribe, which has used native language teaching to improve children's
performance.
"It was very convincing that the pride and self-esteem building, and
reconnection of their culture, and reclaiming of their language was very
important to the success of their community," said Bly.
Programs like the Niigaane Ojibwemowen language immersion program in
Cass Lake could be an effective means of reviving moribund languages and
reconnecting youth with their heritage. The average age of a fluent
Ojibwe speaker on Leech Lake is 70.5 years old, according to the school.
These programs also have track records of fostering academic success.
In New Zealand, native Maori children in immersion programs catapulted
their graduation rates from 5 percent-15 percent to 75 percent,
according to Boyer, who cited research by renowned educator Janine
Pease-Pretty On Top that concludes immersion is "the most effective
strategy for academic achievement for indigenous learners."
Boyer also explained that language study encourages understanding of
cultural perspective and relationships. For example, in Ojibwe the word
for "aunt" is the same as "mother."
The bill will first be discussed in the Early Childhood Learning Finance
Division for which Bly is vice-chair, before continuing through the K-12
Finance Committee and Murphy's Education Finance and Economic
Competitiveness.
Legislation would create a council
Danielle Cabot
ST. PAUL — As few as 15 fully fluent Dakota speakers reside in
Minnesota and perhaps as few as 50 fluent Ojibwe speakers, according to
Margaret Boyer of the Alliance of Early Childhood Professionals and the
Dakota Ojibwe Language Revitalization Alliance.
But a state council of stakeholders would be established to preserve and
promote education of these languages if a bill introduced in the House
on Thursday proves successful.
Particularly relevant to the this session's goals, this effort may
also be an effective way of closing the achievement gap that indigenous
students face.
The bill would create a Council on Indigenous Languages with
representatives of 32 stakeholders, including indigenous organizations,
academic institutions and 11 tribes. The council would direct
development of education programs for children and adults to learn how
to speak, read and write in endangered native languages.
The bill would also create an exception to allow few remaining fluent
speakers to teach the language without traditional state teaching
certification. No money requests have been established.
Many languages face extinction because they have not been passed on to
younger generations and stigmatized by "English Only" movements.
It's an issue that's got to be talked about," said
co-sponsor Rep. Mary Murphy DFL- Hermantown. "We have the
opportunity to capture these languages and pass them on."
House bill sponsor Rep. David Bly, DFL-Northfield, got involved through
his work with the Minnesota SEED Project promoting diversity training
among teachers. Bly also studied the efforts of the Canadian Mohawk
tribe, which has used native language teaching to improve children's
performance.
"It was very convincing that the pride and self-esteem building, and
reconnection of their culture, and reclaiming of their language was very
important to the success of their community," said Bly.
Programs like the Niigaane Ojibwemowen language immersion program in
Cass Lake could be an effective means of reviving moribund languages and
reconnecting youth with their heritage. The average age of a fluent
Ojibwe speaker on Leech Lake is 70.5 years old, according to the school.
These programs also have track records of fostering academic success.
In New Zealand, native Maori children in immersion programs catapulted
their graduation rates from 5 percent-15 percent to 75 percent,
according to Boyer, who cited research by renowned educator Janine
Pease-Pretty On Top that concludes immersion is "the most effective
strategy for academic achievement for indigenous learners."
Boyer also explained that language study encourages understanding of
cultural perspective and relationships. For example, in Ojibwe the word
for "aunt" is the same as "mother."
The bill will first be discussed in the Early Childhood Learning Finance
Division for which Bly is vice-chair, before continuing through the K-12
Finance Committee and Murphy's Education Finance and Economic
Competitiveness.