The Alaska Legislature passed a bill that designates 20 Native languages as official languages after a steady day of lobbying by Native people.

The House passed House Bill 216 unanimously last week. But it was being held up in the Senate until Native citizens showed up to the state Capitol and pressured lawmakers into taking action.

The Senate finally voted 18-2 at 3am this morning to pass the bill. Today is the last day of the legislative session.

The bill names the Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik, Central Alaskan Yup'ik, Alutiiq, Unangax, Dena'ina, Deg Xinag, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, Gwich'in, Tanana, Upper Tanana, Tanacross, Hän, Ahtna, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian as official languages, along with English. English will continue to be used on state documents and during state meetings.

Get the Story:
Native language bill passes overwhelmingly after protest in Capitol (The Anchorage Daily News 4/21)
Passionate believers in Native heritage prod legislators to recognize languages (The Alaska Dispatch 4/21)

Related Stories:
Alaska lawmakers weigh bill to declare Native languages official (04/02)