Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act Facts for Kids

The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act is a special law in the United States. It helps fund programs that work to keep Native American languages alive. This important act is named after Esther Martinez. She was a beloved teacher and storyteller who lived to be 94 years old. Esther Martinez was famous for her dedication to saving the Tewa language. She passed away in 2006, shortly after receiving a national award for her work.

In 2012, the Voice of America talked about how important it is to keep traditions alive. They reported that U.S. Representative Heather Wilson from New Mexico created this law. She believed that languages are a key part of American heritage. Once a language is lost, it is gone forever.

The main goal of this law is to help save Native American languages. It does this through special programs called language immersion. In these programs, students learn subjects and communicate mostly in the Native language. This helps them become fluent speakers. The Esther Martinez Native Languages Programs Reauthorization Act was approved in December 2019.

How the Act Started
Programs That Help Languages Grow
Keeping the Programs Going
See also

How the Act Started

The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act became a law in December 2006. President George W. Bush signed it. This law allowed money to be given to Native American tribes. The funding helps them create new programs. These programs are designed to prevent the loss of their heritage and culture.

Programs That Help Languages Grow

The act supports different types of language programs. These programs help teach and preserve Native American languages.

Language Nests

Language nests are like special preschools for young children.

They teach and care for at least 10 children under seven years old.
Children spend at least 500 hours a year learning in a Native American language.
The Native language is the main language used for teaching.
Classes are also offered for the parents of these students.

Language Survival Schools

These schools are for older students who want to become fluent in a Native language.

They teach at least 15 students for whom the school is their main school.
Students receive at least 500 hours of instruction per year in a Native language.
The schools create lessons and materials to help students become fluent.
They also make sure students learn math, reading, and science.
These schools train teachers and are located where many Native American students live.
Schools applying for funding must have experience running similar language programs.

Language Restoration Programs

These programs help bring Native languages back to the wider community.

They run at least one Native American language program for the community.
They train teachers to teach these languages.
They create new materials for learning Native American languages.

Keeping the Programs Going

Since 2000, nearly $50 million has been given out through this program. This money has supported 390 grants to help save Native languages. These grants mostly fund language immersion programs.

In 2012, members of Congress from New Mexico worked to extend the program. Senator Tom Udall and Representatives Martin Heinrich, Ben Ray Lujan, and Steve Pearce supported bills to continue the funding for another five years.

Willard Gilbert, who was the president of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA), shared an important fact. In 1996, there were 175 Native American languages still spoken. He warned that without urgent help, only about 20 of these languages might still be spoken by 2050. This shows how important programs like the Esther Martinez Act are.

Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act facts for kids

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