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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Fyi. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thanks<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Carolyn <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Native Language Immersion Bill Placed
on the Suspension Calendar- NEEDS TRIBAL LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO PASS</span></font></b><br>
<br>
The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006, H.R.
4766 will be on the suspension calendar in the House of Representatives the
week of September 25th which means that the House will vote on the bill next
week. This bill will create grant programs under the Department of Health and
Human Services for Native language survival schools, Native language nests, and
Native language restoration programs. Representative Heather Wilson, (R-NM)
introduced this legislation during NIEA’s Legislative Summit and
has been working very closely with NIEA and Indian Country to turn the bill
into law. Most recently, the House Education and Workforce Committee held field
hearing on the bill in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Albuquerque</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">New Mexico</st1:State></st1:place>. Co-sponsors of H.R.
4766 include Representatives Rick Renzi (R-AZ), Tom Udall (D-NM), Steve Pearce
(R-NM), and Mark Udall (D-CO). <br>
<br>
NIEA is requesting that all tribes, tribal Education departments, and schools
express their support for this bill that will provide critical support for our
languages. A sample letter is attached to send to your congressional delegation
in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. We have a short time frame
(by Monday) to get these letters into your congressional delegation and
leadership on the House Education and Workforce Committee and Senate Committee
on Indian Affairs. The attached letters are addressed to the House Education
and Workforce Committee and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, but can be
tailored to your individual Congressional members. <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>PLEASE</span></b> have your tribes, tribal education departments, and
schools send in the letters to your congressional representatives <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>TODAY</span></b> and <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>MONDAY</span></b>.
We do not have time to lose! If you have any questions- please feel free to
contact NIEA at (202)544-7290. <br>
<br>
Please send the letters to your congressional representatives and the four fax
#’s below. <br>
<br>
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs fax #s (202) 224-5429 (Majority) and
(202)228-2589 (Minority) <br>
House Education and Workforce Committee fax #s (202)225-9571 (Majority), and
(202)226-4864 (Minority)<br>
<br>
Please send a copy to the National Indian Education Association fax # (202)
544-7293 <br>
<br>
Cut and paste the following text.<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>SAMPLE LETTER TO THE HOUSE</span></b><br>
<br>
September __, 2006 <br>
<br>
The Honorable Howard "Buck" McKeon <br>
Chairman<br>
Education and the Workforce Committee<br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
House of Representatives<br>
2181 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Rayburn</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">House</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Office</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Building</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">20515</st1:PostalCode></st1:place>
<br>
<br>
The Honorable George Miller<br>
Ranking Member<br>
Education and the Workforce Committee <br>
<st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> House of
Representatives <br>
2181 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Rayburn</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">House</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Office</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Building</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">20515</st1:PostalCode></st1:place>
<br>
<br>
Dear Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Miller: <br>
<br>
On behalf of ___________, I support H.R. 4766, the Esther Martinez Native
American Languages Preservation Act of 2006. I understand that this bill will
be on the suspension calendar in the House of Representatives the week of
September 25th. We urge the House to pass this critical legislation. <br>
<br>
There is a crisis loss of Native languages across the country. It is estimated
that only twenty indigenous languages will remain viable by the year 2050. Our
Native languages are not spoken anywhere else in the world; and, if they are
not preserved, they will disappear forever. Given the rapid pace of
deterioration of Native languages, it is a race against the clock to save
Native languages. <br>
<br>
The key to stemming the loss of Native languages is by significantly increasing
support for Native American language immersion programs. It is well proven that
language immersion programs are one of the few effective ways to create fluent
speakers in Native languages. Further, data shows that Native students who
participate in an immersion program attain higher academic success compared to their
Native peers who do not participate in these programs. <br>
<br>
The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
should do all that it can to preserve Native American languages as these
languages played a vital role in protecting our country during World Wars I and
II. Also, as a result of federal assimilationist policies in the early and
mid-1900’s, many Native people stopped speaking their Native
languages because they were forced to attend Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding
schools that harshly forbid the speaking of Native languages. <br>
<br>
Currently, under existing law, the Administration for Native Americans, Health
and Human Services, administers a Native American languages revitalization
grant program under the Native American Programs Act of 1974. H.R. 4766 would
provide for expanded uses under the current grant program to allow for Native
American language immersion grants. The language immersion grants would assist
Native communities as they work to revitalize and protect their languages for
generations to come. <br>
<br>
We appreciate your efforts to help us save our Native American languages and
look forward to working with you to ensure that this legislation is enacted
into law. <br>
<br>
Sincerely, <br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>SAMPLE LETTER TO THE SENATE</span></b> <br>
<br>
September __, 2006 <br>
<br>
The Honorable John McCain Chairman Indian Affairs Committee U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 <br>
<br>
The Honorable Byron Dorgan Vice Chairman Indian Affairs Committee U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 <br>
<br>
Dear Chairman McCain and Vice Chairman Dorgan: <br>
<br>
On behalf of ___________, I strongly support H.R. 4766, the Esther Martinez
Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006. I understand that this bill
will be on the suspension calendar in the House of Representatives the week of
September 25th. This bill will likely pass the House, and we urge the Senate to
pass the House bill by unanimous consent. <br>
<br>
There is a crisis loss of Native languages across the country. It is estimated
that only twenty indigenous languages will remain viable by the year 2050. Our
Native languages are not spoken anywhere else in the world; and, if they are
not preserved, they will disappear forever. Given the rapid pace of
deterioration of Native languages, it is a race against the clock to save
Native languages. <br>
<br>
The key to stemming the loss of Native languages is by significantly increasing
support for Native American language immersion programs. It is well proven that
language immersion programs are one of the few effective ways to create fluent
speakers in Native languages. Further, data shows that Native students who
participate in an immersion program attain higher academic success compared to
their Native peers who do not participate in these programs. <br>
<br>
The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
should do all that it can to preserve Native American languages as these
languages played a vital role in protecting our country during World Wars I and
II. Also, as a result of federal assimilationist policies in the early and
mid-1900’s, many Native people stopped speaking their Native
languages because they were forced to attend Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding
schools that harshly forbid the speaking of Native languages. <br>
<br>
Currently, under existing law, the Administration for Native Americans, Health
and Human Services, administers a Native American languages revitalization
grant program under the Native American Programs Act of 1974. H.R. 4766 would
provide for expanded uses under the current grant program to allow for Native
American language immersion grants. The language immersion grants would assist
Native communities as they work to revitalize and protect their languages for
generations to come. <br>
<br>
We appreciate your efforts to help us save our Native American languages and
look forward to working with you to ensure that this legislation is enacted
into law. <br>
<br>
Sincerely, <br>
……………<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Please distribute and thank you for your
support!</span></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3 color=maroon face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:maroon'>Carolyn
Hepburn</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Director, Native Education and Training</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sault</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> of Applied
Arts and Technology</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>443 Northern Avenue</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Sault Ste. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Marie</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">ON</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">P6A 5L3</st1:PostalCode></st1:place></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Phone: (705) 759-2554 ext. 2499</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Fax: (705) 759-0175</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Web: </span></font><a
href="http://www.saultcollege.ca/NativeEducation"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>www.saultcollege.ca/NativeEducation</span></font></a><font
face="Arial Narrow"><span style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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