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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is important to petition our governments to fund
native language programs more. It is just as equally important, if not more so,
to petition our native communities to do what is necessary in homes, extended
families, at school and at play so that languages can be retained or
revitalized. Money is only a partial answer for the lost of native languages.
Money will be unable to do anything to prevent the loss of languages unless our
language attitudes changes. Governments could fund boarding schools again,
require native children to attend them, and only allow native languages to be
spoken there. That might work to revitalize languages, but we all know the
terrible impact boarding schools had on our children in the past. I have seen
huge amounts of government money poured into language revitalization programs
and they have only a minimal impact on children. Government policies are largely
to blame for loss of languages. But there is little that governments can do
today to reverse that loss, *unless* language communities are willing to work
with government money to create viable language programs. Token programs to
teach children numbers and colors do not teach language. "Immersion" programs
where teachers revert to English, French, or some other national language when
they need to "communicate" something do not teach a language. Children learn
languages from their parents and other caregivers. Schools can have a part in
the process but seldom can revitalize programs unless they are true immersion
schools. Money can help. But little will change until native peoples decide that
they are going to teach the language again to their children.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is a terrible dilemma. We need to be realistic
and not give people the idea that money alone will revitalize languages. It
won't. It can't.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wayne Leman</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alutiiq tribal member</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>and Cheyenne linguist</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>