Not speaking our language (fwd link)

[phil cash cash]

Not speaking our language

Posted: June 20, 2008
by: Rob Capriccioso

Alaska Natives fight for election assistance

WASHINGTON - Plenty of attention has been paid to the importance of the Native
vote this election season, but less scrutiny has focused on whether American
Indians - especially those who are largely proficient in their tribal languages
over English - have been given sufficient resources to understand ballots and
other election materials.

The issue is reaching a boiling point for members of four tribal communities in
Alaska, who are currently arguing in federal court that state and local
election officials haven't provided them with effective oral language
assistance and voting materials in their traditional Yup'ik language. Yup'ik is
the primary form of communication for Natives in the Bethel, Alaska, region.

Access full article below:
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096417571