English-Only laws in AZ

[Rolland Nadjiwon]

Interesting Anecdote:

Proposition  203, English only, is not a recent proposition.  My wife and I
and our children were living in Tucson at the time it more of an issue.
There was a major opposition to it by the Mexican Americans. One of the
outspoken families was the Rhonstadt family, an old family with signatures
on Spanish/ American documentation predating Texas/New
Mexico/Arizona/California statehood. The protests resulted in a response of
the nature that the proposition would not be rescinded but it would not be
enforced. It appeared, at the time, many people did not realize the extent
of the Mexican American remaining in the southwest even to this day and had
intended the legislation to be used against the Dene and other native Tribes
in Arizona. The Mexican American response seemed to be a total surprise to
White rural populations who strongly supported it. Perhaps that is part of
the reason why you find 203 is "poorly crafted and even more poorly
implemented...."

The only reason I am aware of this legislation, is because of the two
official language legislation in Canada for French and English. That
Canadian decision around the same time as Prop 203 was 'very' controversial
in Canada.

Here in the city where we live, we had moved to Tucson for my wife to do her
Grad work at UofA, the mayor, a somewhat colourful/notorious personality,
rescinded the legislation and declared Sault Ste. Marie, ON. as an English
only city. Both my wife and I were unaware of the Mayor's actions. However,
people who knew where relocated from were saying, "Hey, you come from that
English only city up in Canada."
"No. Canada has two official languages by Federal Legislation: English and
French."
"Oh no. Your mayor just declared your city an English only city."

Of course it didn't work. I could never figure why he did that considering
he is Italian and, probably, the largest language group in Sault Ste. Marie
outside of English, as Hispanic is in Arizona.

However, our Native Language programs are taking a beating here in Canada
also because of official language legislation where we are neither included
or excluded.

-------
wahjeh
rolland nadjiwon


----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Penfield" <sdp at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU>
To: <ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: English-Only laws in AZ


> Matthew,
> Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention. It is particularly
> troubling since, in the beginning of the process, Native people were
> assured, repeatedly, that they would not be included in the application of
> this
> poorly crafted and even more poorly implemented (my opinion, put mildly)
> proposition.
> Susan
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Matthew Ward" <mward at LUNA.CC.NM.US>
> To: <ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 3:55 PM
> Subject: English-Only laws in AZ
>
>
>> Just wanted to mention that I've been in touch with ACLU Arizona about
>> the issue of Prop. 203, the English-only law, affecting Native immersion
>> programs.  It does indeed seem that Window Rock Public Schools may risk
>> losing funding by continuing their immersion programs, and the issue may
>> have to go to court.
>>
>> We all need to be vigilant in letting people know that these
>> English-only laws do not just apply to immigrants--they also endanger
>> efforts to preserve Native American languages as well.  I suspect that
>> if Azizona voters had understood the effect of this law, they wouldn't
>> have voted for it in the first place.
>>
>> Matthew Ward
>