[Lexicog] Fw: URGENT!!! Language Bill needs push now

[goodtracks at PEOPLEPC.COM]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ryan Red Corn 
To: goodtracks at peoplepc.com ; Talee Redcorn 
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 3:07 PM
Subject: Fwd: URGENT!!! Language Bill needs push now






Begin forwarded message:


  From: "TICAR OK" <TICAR49 at msn.com>
  Date: December 4, 2006 10:37:02 AM PST
  Subject: URGENT!!! Language Bill needs push now


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: richard-grounds at utulsa.edu

  National Indian Education Association
  110 Maryland Avenue, N.E.
  Suite 104
  Washington, D.C. 20002
  P: (202) 544-7290 / F: (202) 544-7293 

  November 30, 2006
  Broadcast #06-068

  ACTION ALERT ON H.R. 4766, THE ESTHER MARTINEZ NATIVE
  LANGUAGES PRESERVATION ACT OF 2006
  CALLING ON HELP FROM OKLAHOMA 

  NIEA is still working hard to pass the H.R. 4766, the Esther
  Martinez Native Languages Preservation Act of 2006 during
  the lame duck session. When Congress returned from the
  election recess, NIEA and Native American Code
  Talkers Samuel Tso (Navajo), Keith Little (Navajo) and Merrill
  Sandovil (Navajo) met with several Senate offices to discuss
  H.R.4766 and request removal of the current hold placed on
  the bill.

  We are asking for your help, particularly tribes, schools,
  educational groups, and religious organizations in Oklahoma
  to weigh in with Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK)
  expressing your support of H.R. 4766 and
  requesting him to lift his hold.
  Congress will return from their Thanksgiving break on
  December 4th and are expected to adjourn for the year
  the same week so there is little time left to pass
  H..R. 4766 this session. 

  H.R. 4766 is a House bill that was introduced by
  Representatives Heather Wilson (R-NM) and Rick Renzi (R-AZ).
  Before Congress recessed at the end of September, the
  House of Representatives passed H.R. 4766 on suspension on a
  bi-partisan basis. If Senator Coburn lifts his hold, then the
  Senate can pass the bill on the unanimous consent calendar
  when it re-convenes next week to wrap up its legislative
  business for the 109th Congress. 

  Essentially, H.R. 4766 would provide assistance to
  on-going heritage language restoration efforts
  through a current authorized discretionary Native
  language grant program at the Administration
  for Native Americans at the Department of Health
  and Human Services. This bill is needed to provide a focus
  on grants that help create Native language fluency as opposed
  to other kinds of language grants.
  The bill does not create a new program.  Instead,
  it simply varies the uses of grant funds in a current
  program.

  Further, the bill does not alter English proficiency
  requirements contained in current law. Instead,
  the bill simply provides additional opportunities to
  preserve Native languages. 

  Please find below below a sample letter to send to Senator
  Coburn. 

  Senator Coburn's office phone number is (202) 224-5754 and fax
  number is
  (202) 224-6008. Please fax a copy of any letters sent to
  (202)544-7293 so
  that NIEA can keep track of them. 

  November________, 2006 

  The Honorable Tom Coburn, M.D. United States Senate
  Washington, D.C. 20510 

  Dear Senator Coburn: 

  I am writing to urge your support for Senate passage during
  the lame duck session of H.R. 4766. This legislation, which would
  amend an existing Federal Native language program to provide a
  broader range of language training options, passed the House on
  the suspension calendar and is under consideration for passage
  by unanimous consent in the Senate.  We understand that you
  have raised concerns about the bill. 

  Native languages are not spoken anywhere else in the world;
  and, if they are not preserved, then they will disappear forever.
  Unfortunately, Native American languages are disappearing at
  an alarming rate.  Language scholars estimate that there were
  approximately 300 languages spoken in North America prior to
  the arrival of Columbus. Some project that only 20 indigenous
  languages will remain viable by the year 2050. 

  H.R. 4766 would help to preserve Native languages by allowing
  for increased opportunities for students, both young and old
  and Native and non-Native, to learn a Native language. The
  federal government should support the preservation of Native
  languages. After all, Native languages are one of the
  treasures of this country's heritage and history. Native
  American languages have contributed to the rich fabric of
  what makes our country so great. For example, many states,
  cities, towns, streets, rivers, and other geographical places in
  our country are Native words. It would be a shame to continue
  to lose the languages from where these words are derived. 

  Also, another reason that the federal government should play a
  role in preserving Native languages is due to the federal
  government's much-criticized assimilation policies in the 1950's and
  1960's, which is one of the main reasons that Native American
  languages are dying out. During that time, the federal government
  followed a policy to eradicate Native languages by harshly forbidding
  the speaking of Native languages at Bureau of Indian Affairs schools.
  The architect of this policy summed up the policy as "Kill the Indian
  . . . and save the man." Now these children are adults and have not
  taught their children their Native languages, given their experiences
  at these schools. 

  It is well-proven that individuals who participate in programs
  such as those provided for in H.R. 4766 realize many positive gains from
  learning a new language. Further, in learning a Native language, these
  individuals learn about the history of the community in which they live and gain
  a better appreciation for it. 

  I urge you to work for quick passage of this legislation in the lame duck
  session of the 109th Congress.

  Thank you for your consideration of this request. 

  Sincerely, 
  Your Name





  ------- End forwarded message -------
  Richard A. Grounds, Ph.D.  
  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Yakoke (Thank You!),
  Cindy Martin, TICAR V.P.
   
  Never cease in the fight for peace, justice, and equality for all people.  Be persistent in all that you do and don't allow anyone to sway you from your conscience.
  Leonard Peltier - Lakota

  TICAR
  10026-A South Mingo Road, #278
  Tulsa, OK  74133-5700
  PH:  918.948.7028





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