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<P>Eighth Annual Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Symposium
<P> The Eighth Annual Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Symposium "Merging
Tradition and Technology to Revitalize Indigenous Languages" was held at
Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona, on June 14-16, 2001,
with about 400 indigenous language educators and activists in attendance. The
symposium provided them an opportunity through panels, workshops, papers, and
informal discussions to share ideas and materials for revitalizing the
indigenous languages of the world. <BR> This sharing included 60 separate
sessions, ranging from Choctaw Internet Courses in Oklahoma to Planning a Summer
Language Immersion Camp. General sessions included Oscar Kawagley of the
University of Alaska speaking on "A Yupiaq Worldview: A Pathway to Ecology and
Spirit," readings by Navajo poets Luci Tapahonso and Laura Tohe, and language
activist Gary Owens speaking on "Curriculum Development and Language Learning:
Breathing Outside the Box." A published selection of papers from the conference
is planned to be issued in the spring of 2002. <BR> The ninth annual
conference is planned for 2002 in Montana with the date and place still to be
determined. Updated information will be posted on the Teaching Indigenous
Languages (TIL) web site at <A
href="http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/TIL.html">http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/TIL.html</A>
as soon as it is available or to be put on an e-mail list to receive
information, sent your e-mail address to Jon.Reyhner@nau.edu. Published
proceedings of the 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998 conferences can be accessed from
the TIL web site. <BR> New material on the TIL web site includes the full
text of <I>Learn in Beauty: Indigenous Education for a New Century,
</I>including papers on Navajo attitudes towards teaching their language in
schools, a model Navajo/English dual language program, and western influences on
teaching indigenous languages. Among new links posted on the TIL web site is a
link to the full text of the summer 2001 special issue of <I>Cultural Survival
Quarterly</I> titled "Endangered Languages, Endangered Lives" and a link to the
2001 Alaskan "Guidelines for Strengthening Indigenous Languages." <BR>
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