As part of an attempt to develop a multicultural model of teacher education that incorporates and embraces Anishinaabe philosophy, interviews were conducted with seven Anishinaabe elders from one Canadian and three U.S. reservations. Eight themes emerged. In order of their importance to the meaning and experience of being Anishinaabe, they are…

This paper discusses the use of technology in instruction. It begins by examining research on technology and indigenous languages, focusing on the use of technology to get community attention for an indigenous language, improve the quantity of quality language, document spoken language, create sociocultural learning contexts, improve study skills,…

This paper discusses the context of indigenous language education in western Canada, the hope of language revitalization, and the role of the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI) in reclaiming and stabilizing these languages. CILLDI was established in 1999 by a collective of language advocates and educators who…

In 10 families in which parents spoke Navajo and children did not, factors that inhibited the transmittal of Navajo to children were the use of English at home, shame toward the Navajo language and culture, the perception that a "glass ceiling" hindered the job advancement of Navajo speakers, and influence of the media. Suggests ways to…

Focuses on language restoration in a situation where people start again to use a language as the language of the home and to speak it to newborn children after a period when these uses were extinct. Specifically considers the conditions accounting for Hebrew language revitalization and compares this situation with efforts to revitalize the Maori…

Notes that Samoans establish new communities and identities through different linguistic strategies in the urban context of Los Angeles. Argues that by comparing the different social organizations of language use, it is possible to uncover how certain forms may be used to simultaneously maintain and transform cultural practices within a syncretic…

Data from three well-documented American Indian language immersion programs (teaching Navajo, Hawaiian, and Keres) and from an ongoing large comparative study of language shift/retention in six Indian school-community sites suggest that immersion schooling can serve the dual roles of promoting students' school success and revitalizing endangered…

Describes bilingual/bicultural programs being developed in New Zealand which embrace the Maori culture and nationalism through such approaches as "language nests" for preschool children and their parents or primary grade immersion programs. Social studies guidelines emphasizing Maori culture are also discussed. (Author/CB)

Describes several preschool, elementary, and high school Maori immersion and bilingual programs in New Zealand, focusing on how the programs define and establish Maori space in the schools, local and tribal concerns, and the basis for the revitalization of the language. (29 references) (Author/CB)

Canadian Heritage and Native language maintenance, as an educational goal, is a worthwhile and valuable investment, especially because this goal helps to dispel assimilationist educational policy. Teachers of these languages should benefit from programs designed for second language teachers. (CB)

In light of the articles in this issue, this article discusses the role that language planning plays in the building of communities and nations, focusing on American Indian language and bilingual education. Also examined is the impact of the Native American Languages Act on the maintenance of indigenous language and cultural resources. (four…

Examines the background and roots of the Welsh language and how it is being kept in existence and its usage increased. The maintenance of the Welsh language through literature, education, and journalism is described; radio and television broadcasting in Welsh is reviewed; and other influences are examined. (12 references) (LRW)

Bill Leap responds to questions regarding reasons for the disappearance of traditional languages, steps in and barriers to language renewal, the need for written language, the importance of understanding a community's culture when studying or teaching the language, and the roles tribal colleges and linguists can play in language preservation. (DMM)

Describes the Punana Leo Immersion Schools in Hawai'i, founded in 1983 by a group of Hawai'ian-language educators concerned about the impending extinction of their language. A second part describes two of the teachers and their philosophy about imparting language skill through spirit and culture. Sidebar describes the Advocates for Indigenous…

Wolakota Waldorf School on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, finds that the Waldorf system works well with Lakota values and culture. Describes a typical day for the kindergarten-only school; its relationship to the local K-12 school; its emphasis on social skills, imagination, play, the Lakota way, and family involvement; and its…