[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 184 (Sunday, October 25, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6593-S6594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES ACT
Mr. UDALL. Madam President, 30 years ago this week, the Native
American Languages Act, NALA, was signed into law. As we celebrate this
momentous occasion, I would like to take some time to reflect.
Native languages hold within them the culture, history, and
resiliency of their communities, but they are not only crucial to the
communities that speak them. Native languages have influenced our
shared American history, contributed to our understanding of
environmental stewardship, and made the very fabric of our Nation's
identity richer. As just one notable example of the impact Native
languages have had, in World War I and World War II, Native American
soldiers known as Code Talkers used their Native languages to transmit
coded tactical messages. Code Talkers were able to improve the speed of
communications encryption during both wars, leading directly to
American forces out-maneuvering enemy troops in numerous military
operations.
Yet prior to enactment of the Native American Languages Act in 1990,
the United States' Federal policies and practices often resulted in
suppression and extermination of Native languages. Recognizing that
these past practices were in conflict with the principles of Tribal
sovereignty and self-determination, the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs sought to reshape Federal policy to better align with these
principles. Under the leadership of Chairman Inouye and Vice Chairman
McCain, the paradigm-shifting Native American Languages Act became law,
and the United States formally acknowledged the rights and freedoms of
Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native languages.
Under the Native American Languages Act, Congress set out our current
Federal Native language policy, declaring:
``It is the policy of the United States to--
``(1) preserve, protect, and promote the rights and freedom
of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native
American languages;
``(2) allow exceptions to teacher certification
requirements for Federal programs, and programs funded in
whole or in part by the Federal Government, for instruction
in Native American languages when such teacher certification
requirements hinder the employment of qualified teachers who
teach in
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Native American languages, and to encourage State and
territorial governments to make similar exceptions;
``(3) encourage and support the use of Native American
languages as a medium of instruction in order to encourage
and support--
``(A) Native American language survival,
``(B) educational opportunity,
``(C) increased student success and performance,
``(D) increased student awareness and knowledge of their
culture and history, and
``(E) increased student and community pride;
``(4) encourage State and local education programs to work
with Native American parents, educators, Indian tribes, and
other Native American governing bodies in the implementation
of programs to put this policy into effect;
``(5) recognize the right of Indian tribes and other Native
American governing bodies to use the Native American
languages as a medium of instruction in all schools funded by
the Secretary of the Interior;
``(6) fully recognize the inherent right of Indian tribes
and other Native American governing bodies, States,
territories, and possessions of the United States to take
action on, and give official status to, their Native American
languages for the purpose of conducting their own business;
``(7) support the granting of comparable proficiency
achieved through course work in a Native American language
the same academic credit as comparable proficiency achieved
through course work in a foreign language, with recognition
of such Native American language proficiency by institutions
of higher education as fulfilling foreign language entrance
or degree requirements; and
``(8) encourage all institutions of elementary, secondary
and higher education, where appropriate, to include Native
American languages in the curriculum in the same manner as
foreign languages and to grant proficiency in Native American
languages the same full academic credit as proficiency in
foreign languages.''
Over the last 30 years, catalyzed by the Native American Languages
Act, Congress has promoted the maintenance and revitalization of Native
languages. In 1992, Congress amended the act to establish a grant
program at the Administration for Native Americans, ANA, to support
Native language projects.
During my time in Congress, I have worked to support Native American
languages revitalization efforts. In 2006, as a U.S. Congressman for
New Mexico, I helped lead a bipartisan bill to expand the ANA's grant
program to bolster Native language immersion education programs. I also
participated in an Education and Workforce Committee field hearing in
my home State to hear from Native language advocates, which solidified
support for the bill's passage in the House. Enacted as the Esther
Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act, this legislation
was named after an Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo traditional storyteller and
Tewa language advocate who tragically passed away in 2006.
As the current vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs, I had the honor of leading the most recent Esther Martinez
Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act, which was
signed into law this past December, to further enhance ANA's Native
languages grant programs.
I also convened a Native American Languages Listening Session last
year and worked with Committee Chairman John Hoeven to hold an
oversight hearing in 2018 to hear directly from Native language
revitalization stakeholders across the country. At those events, we
learned that, over the last three decades, great strides have been made
to rectify past injustices and move toward support of Native languages.
Sadly, despite our efforts, a number of Native languages are still
endangered today. The loss of even one Native language would deal a
significant blow to our shared American and global heritage. There is
still more work to do.
This anniversary is an important opportunity for Congress to reflect.
I hope my colleagues will join me and recommit to fully upholding the
policies set out in the Native American Languages Act.
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