$4.8 million awarded to preserve Native languages

The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families today announced awards for 18 grant projects, totaling more than $4.8 million, to help preserve Native languages in various tribal communities throughout the United States.

Funding through the Native Language Preservation and Maintenance and the Esther Martinez Immersion grants will assist tribes and tribal organizations with planning, developing and implementing projects to revitalize Native languages, preserve Native culture and ceremonies and strengthen inter-generational activities between elders and younger children. The purpose of these grant projects is to encourage communities to move toward social unity and strengthen Native language use.

“Our agency understands the value of restoration and preservation of Native American languages and is proud to support these important programs,” said Jeannie Hovland, commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans. “We are providing funding to assess, plan, develop and implement projects to promote the survival and continuing vitality of Native languages through these two programs.”

The Preservation and Maintenance projects will help establish Native language curriculums, teacher certifications, the development of digital language applications such as smart phone games and dictionaries, language classes and camps. The Esther Martinez Immersion projects will focus on community-driven programs designed to revitalize Native American languages. In the first year, 10 Preservation and Maintenance awardees will receive a total of $2,649,423 and eight Esther Martinez Immersion awardees will receive a total of $2,191,832.00. Most grants will be for a three-year project period.

The following tribes and Native American organizations are recipients of the Native Language Preservation and Maintenance grant:

• Kulaniakea (HI) - $288,398.00
• Papahana Kuaola (HI) - $298,983.00
• Salish Kootenai College (MT) - $274,920.00
• Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes (MT) - $199,274.00
• Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (AZ) - $264,200.00
• Makah Indian Tribe (WA) - $279,388.00
• Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana (LA) - $259,600.00
• Crow Language Consortium (MT) - $213,407.00
• Little Wound School Board, Inc. (SD) - $271,262.00
• Rural America Initiatives (SD) - $299,991.00

The following tribes and Native American organizations are recipients of the Esther Martinez Immersion grant:

• Thunder Valley CDC (SD) - $300,000.00
• Lakhotiyapi Okahtan Wichiochage, Inc. (SD) - $298,344.00
• Keres Children’s Learning Center (NM) - $239,383.00
• Waadookodaading, Inc. (WI) - $227,915.00
• Chickaloon Native Village (AK) - $298,880.00
• Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (AK) - $275,468.00
• Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (WI) - $251,853.00
• Kalispel Community of the Kalispel Reservation (WA) - $299,989.00

To review the complete listing of Administration for Native Americans grants, visit: /ana/current-grantees.