American Indian Language Revitalization - State Grant
In recognition of the importance American Indian nation languages and their relationship to student engagement and academic achievement, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) issues award grants on a competitive, annual basis to school board, consortium of school boards, CESA, or Head Start agencies who partner with a tribal education authority or government.
These grant funds may be used for language activities related to providing instruction in one or more tribal languages as curricular or co-curricular offerings including, but not limited to, curriculum design, creation of appropriate assessment instruments, professional development activities, language-focused parent and community engagement activities, instructional delivery, and program evaluation.
Statute: 115.745 Tribal language revitalization grants
Rules: Subchapter VI — Grants for Tribal Language Revitalization
Overview
One long held misconception about American Indian nations and tribal communities is that they all speak one single common language. However, that is certainly not the case in Wisconsin as there are at least three language families that are considered to be linguistically separate. Of the eleven federally-recognized American Indian nations and tribal communities in Wisconsin, the six bands of the Lake Superior Chippewa or Ojibwe (Bad River; Lac Courte Oreilles; Lac du Flambeau; Mole Lake or Sokaogon; Red Cliff; and St. Croix), Forest County Potawatomi, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican speak Algonquian languages, the Oneida Nation speak an Iroquoian language and the Ho-Chunk Nation speak a Siouan language. Until recently most of these languages were strictly oral, and there were limited amounts literature or other written resources.
Currently, many American Indian nations and tribal communities in Wisconsin and throughout the United States are involved in language preservation efforts to preserve and revive their native languages. While a number of American Indian students may not be fluent native language speakers, they may come from Tribal Nations and communities where they may be exposed to their native language either at home, in preschool or tribal programs, or in other language preservation programs. By the time these students enter school, they may have had several years’ of bicultural or bilingual learning. However, many educators may be unaware of this language foundation and how to use it to enhance student academic success.
Language Resources
American Indian students, families and communities have traditionally been bicultural or bilingual members of their tribal nation and of the United States. In Wisconsin, American Indian nations and tribal communities presently use the Roman Alphabet symbols to represent written sounds in their languages, use unique sound systems and have dialectal variations of their native language. The Education Consultant, American Indian Studies Program David O’Connor was interviewed by the WIDA Consortium in 2014 about the importance of language and culture on student engagement and achievement. Here is a hyperlink to the article from the WIDA Focus On: American Indian English Language Learners.
Another resource that demonstrates the importance of language in American Indian communities is project The Ways, which is a production of the Wisconsin Public Television Education. The Ways is a series of short videos and other resources that showcase the present day experiences of members of the eleven federally-recognized American Indian nations and tribal communities in Wisconsin.
The video Language Apprentice - "Arlene Thunder Blackdeer believes it is essential to keep Ho-Chunk Nation traditional knowledge alive by passing culture and language from elders to younger generations. Learn how she keeps the language alive." [PBS Wisconsin Education]
The video Prayers in a Song "In “Prayers in a Song” Minneapolis-based hip-hop artist Tall Paul (Paul Wenell Jr.) raps about his struggle to learn his indigenous language, Anishinaabemowin. Learn about his journey toward a deeper understanding of his Native identity." [PBS Wisconsin Education]