Navajo Language Academy Summer Workshops 2007

The Navajo Language Academy - http://www.navajolanguageacademy.org - is a non-profit educational organization comprised of linguists and language teachers who are devoted to the teaching, scientific study, and promotion of the Navajo language.

Language is at the heart of the human experience and is one of our most valuable cultural resources. For indigenous peoples, language represents an immediate link to our ancestors and is a crucial element in maintaining a cultural identity after centuries of conquest and assimilation. Although Navajo is one of the only North American indigenous languages with enough remaining speakers to potentially survive, it is today an endangered language that could easily become another casualty without sufficient resources and support. While most Navajo elders still speak Navajo, recent reports indicate that fewer than 10% of Navajo four-year-olds do. Navajo is not being passed to our youngest generation. At the current rate of attrition, our language is expected to be extinct in a few more generations. If this happens, it would mean that no indigenous language in the United States or Canada will have survived the European conquest and avoided becoming a dead language.

The Navajo Language Academy is working to preserve and promote the Navajo language. The NLA, comprised of Navajo linguists and language teachers with advanced training, vast experience and extreme dedication, offers intensive annual workshops on Navajo language pedagogy and linguistics. Growing enrollment in NLA workshops and the large number of articles and books authored or co-authored by NLA-affiliated Navajo linguists over the past decade give testament to the enthusiastic participation of the Navajo community. However, many interested Navajo educators -- including language, math, and science teachers -- are unable to attend the workshops because they cannot afford to.

Tax-deductible contributions to the Navajo Language Academy will allow the NLA to provide its training and support of Navajo teacher-scholars through scholarships and stipends and also allow us to bring our training workshops directly to Navajo teachers throughout the Navajo Nation during the school year.

Donations can be sent to:
Navajo Language Academy
PO Box 5411
Window Rock, AZ 86515

For more information, visit www.navajolanguageacademy.org

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Navajo
• Language
• Academy
• preservation
• American
• Indian

[magnamagus]

Navajo needs to be included in the STATE RUN Schools Along with English. Its mess up that Schools on Rez only teach in english --- mostly -- THats the Problem -- The schools are teaching White Supremacy - Eurocentric Ideals -- Its Very Racist and indians Dont want to Stand up to it -- The Fact that its Destroying The language and people still wont stand up to it.....is no one's fault but our own. People need to stop sitting on their asses and do something about it.....

[tgltyty]

@navajo002 Why would you want to learn hindi and not your own language?

[r2d23678]

@CaptianKay then fuckin do it, you have no excuses.

[ethnonomad]

Some 7000 languages are spoken around the world today. Studies show that one language disappears every two weeks. Language is not simply a set of words that are used for people to communicate. A language is the full expression of a group’s social identity. It is the vehicle by which human beings express their thoughts, myths and values. When an ancient tongue disappears, elders carry to their grave part of humanity’s culture and knowledge. Ethnonomad

[MrRedbear1961]

I for one agree with the upper statement. I too would love to learn more. My Grandfather made his journey when i was young. Anyone knowing how i could get more info on this, please let me know.

[SnowBoardNative]

Ahéhee'