The Online Collection of National Heritage Language Program Profiles

Indigenous Language Programs

Organizations:

Indigenous Languages
Indigenous Language Institute
Santa Fe, NM

The Indigenous Language Institute (ILI) was founded in 1992 with the aim of assisting the language revitalization efforts of all indigenous tribes, and to create new generations of speakers. ILI facilitates various initiatives including development of language materials, public awareness and education, and research into language revival. ILI also facilitates communication on issues of indigenous language preservation between different programs and organizations across the country. ILI’s vision is to see the endangered indigenous languages spoken by people of all ages in everyday life within the next ten years.

Community-Based Programs:

Chinuk Wawa
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Language Program
Grand Ronde, OR

This Native American heritage language program on the Grande Ronde Reservation in Grande Ronde, OR, offers several different languages but focuses on Chinuk Wawa. The program’s main objective is to reestablish Chinuk Wawa as the main community language and preserve all of the other languages spoken on the Grande Ronde Reservation. The program includes education for grades K-5 and adult level classes.

IchChishKiin
 Wapato, WA

This program teaches the Native American language, Yakama (IchChishKiin), to members of the Wapato heritage community. The class meets as a weekly club and focuses on developing primarily oral and conversational skills of Yakama for anyone who is interested.

PreK-12 and Adults:

Denaakk’e Athabascan
The Yukon-Koyukuk School District
Fairbanks, AK

The Literacy Program at the Yukon-Koyukuk school district provides Heritage language immersion for heritage and native speakers. Yokun-Koyukuk school district teaches students basic Denaakk’e (Koyukon or Lower Tanana Athabascan) through daily instruction. Students learn how to greet one another, use Denaakk'e in the classroom setting, and honor their elders. Our mission is for students to gain an appreciation of their native language and culture.

Navajo
Magdalena Municipal School District
Magdalena, NM

The purpose of the program is to create biliterate, bilingual Navajo students and to build cross-cultural connection within the school and the community.

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*The Alliance is no longer collecting profiles for higher education programs. Please visit the National Heritage Language Resource Center (NHLRC) at UCLA to find out how you can participate in their survey of college-level heritage language programs.