[lg policy] US: Learning indigenous language is vital for Native students

[Harold Schiffman]

 Learning indigenous language is vital for Native students
 By La June Montgomery Tabron / President And CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
<http://www.abqjournal.com/author/abqnews>
 PUBLISHED: Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 12:02 am

This month our nation took one more crucial step in promoting early
childhood education by helping millions of American Indian and Alaska
Native children sustain their Native languages and heritage as an essential
component of their academic success.

We commend the federal Office of Head Start for reaffirming its commitment
to the integration of American Indian/Alaska Native tribal languages and
culture in Head Start and Early Head Start Programs across the country.
This action will help the 45,175 American Indian/Alaska Native children
currently served by Head Start to thrive both academically and culturally.

Research studies conducted by Neblett and Umaña-Taylor; Phinney; and the
Office of Head Start have shown that culture-based education increases
Native students’ socio-emotional development and improves educational
outcomes.

It can be seen firsthand with the ‘Aha Punana Leo Native Hawaiian immersion
schools, where students have achieved significantly higher graduation and
college attendance rates than their counterparts in other schools. Learning
their Native language can give children a sense of security and pride in
their cultural identity, which in turn is associated with greater
self-esteem, more positive peer and family relationships and stronger ties
to the community.

Immersion and dual-language teaching approaches are essential to reverse
the tragic and rapid loss of indigenous languages. At one time, there were
more than 300 indigenous languages spoken in North America. By 1998, this
number was reduced to 175, and unless urgent action is taken scarcely 20 of
these languages are expected to be spoken in 2050.

The Office of Head Start’s recent action acknowledges the important federal
role in revitalizing Native languages, since the Native American Languages
Act of 1990 found that the “lack of clear, comprehensive, and consistent
Federal policy … has often resulted in acts of suppression and
extermination of Native American languages and cultures.”

This is why the tremendous language revitalization, racial healing and
early childhood education work taking place in Native communities in New
Mexico and other parts of the country is so important — and supported by
the Kellogg Foundation.

The Pueblo of Jemez has developed a clear vision for culturally based early
childhood development and is now implementing a Towa language immersion
approach in their Head Start programs.

Additionally, the University of New Mexico’s American Indian Language
Policy Research and Teacher Training Center is increasing the overall
quality of Pueblo Indian tribes’ early learning programming by providing
Native language curriculum design, development and implementation support.

The federal guidance to support language immersion and dual language models
in Head Start should be applauded as a key step in revitalizing our
nation’s indigenous languages. This action taken by the Office of Head
Start can contribute to improved outcomes for children and families if
accompanied by funding that supports strong tribal governance and
partnerships; improved teacher training and support; robust parent
engagement and leadership; and the creation of tailored curriculum,
materials and assessment tools.

While the federal government has a primary role in implementation, state
and tribal governments and the private, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors
each have an important part to play.

At the Kellogg Foundation, we believe every child, regardless of race or
income, deserves an equal opportunity to succeed in school and life.

The early childhood years are the most critical in establishing our
children’s trajectories for success. The need for educational systems
serving Native students to embrace indigenous languages and cultures builds
on a racial justice framework that is focused on ensuring that all Native
children thrive.

http://www.abqjournal.com/561599/opinion/learning-indigenous-language-vital-for-native-students.html


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