Native American Legislative Update: December 1, 2006 (fwd msg)

[phil cash cash]

----- Forwarded message from pat at fcnl.org -----
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2006 12:07:42 -0500
From: Pat Powers <pat at fcnl.org>
Reply-To: indian at fcnl.org
Subject: [fcnl-nalu] NALU: Not too late to save Native languages
To: fcnl-nalu <fcnl-nalu at lists101.his.com>

Native American Legislative Update: December 1, 2006

Not too late to save native languages

Your advocacy is needed to pass a bill "dear to the hearts" of American
Indians and Alaska Natives. Language preservation is an essential part
of cultural preservation in Indian Country. Knowing this, legislators of
both parties have supported dual language programs for tribes with
enough elders to pass on their knowledge.

The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006
(H.R. 4766) could become law with your immediate help. This modest ($8
million) expansion of an existing education program to teach native
languages would be a major step toward preserving dying languages. The
House passed this bill in September. The Senate leadership has agreed to
pass this legislation by unanimous consent and it could win approval
during the lame duck session of Congress in early December. But several
senators are using parliamentary tactics known as "holds" to block final
approval of this legislation.

Language immersion programs provide Native children, who already know
English, the opportunity to learn their heritage language as well. Small
federal education grants go a long way to help cultural survival. The
number of fluent speakers diminishes every year.

At an August field hearing in New Mexico, a large crowd attended.
Education advocate Ryan Wilson pointed out the crisis of dying languages
and said that keeping them alive is "dear to our hearts."

Take Action Now

Your senators can ask their colleagues to lift their holds so that
passage of H.R. 4766 will no longer be blocked. You can find a sample
letter and contact your senators directly through FCNL's website. Please
go to< http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=9187561&type=CO>

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----- End forwarded message -----