"The United States is a primarily English-speaking country, and also much of the world uses English as a unifying form of communication.

Learning to speak English, and to speak it well, is a must for anyone looking to succeed in the American and perhaps even the global economic and social society.

So where does that leave the Navajo tongue?

Navajo leaders and friends are hoping that because of the rich history and cultural ties to the language, students will want to learn it to keep that history and culture alive for many more generations.

Understanding the Navajo language, they say, is to understand the Navajo beliefs about how the Navajo people came to exist and how their culture can be interpreted beyond just words.

Help may be on the way.

The University of New Mexico has offered Navajo language classes for 35 years. However, a new bill planned for introduction to the 2007 Legislature will seek support for expanding the university's role into a Navajo linguistics department, in which the language would not only be taught, but studied for its cultural significance as well.

Also, President Bush signed into law just last week legislation that would establish grants for governments, colleges and other Indian educational organizations working to preserve native cultures and language."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A fight to preserve the Navajo tongue (The Farmington Daily Times 12/18)

Another Story:
Vanishing identity? (The Farmington Daily Times 12/17)

Native Languages Bill:
Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act (H.R.4766)

2006 National Heritage Fellowships:
Bio: Esther Martinez | List of Recipients

Relevant Links:
Indigenous Language Institute - http://www.indigenous-language.org

Related Stories:
Native language act signed into law by Bush (12/15)
Cherokee language appears on university team caps (12/12)
Native language bill finally clears Congress (12/8)
San Manuel Band hopes to save Serrano language (12/05)
Navajo Code Talkers lobby for Native language bill (11/14)
Dictionary to help preserve Han Athabaskan language (11/07)
Gathering celebrates Oklahoma tribal languages (10/24)
Celebration of Oklahoma Indian Language and Culture (10/19)
Eastern Band translates new book into Cherokee (10/03)
Tulalip Tribes lose last Lushootseed speaker (10/03)
Opinion: English comes first, not Native languages (9/27)
Esther Martinez language act up for House vote (09/25)
Man arraigned for crash that killed Pueblo storyteller (9/22)
Hundreds pay tribute to Pueblo storyteller, linguist (9/21)
Man charged with death of Pueblo storyteller (9/20)
Funeral for Esther Martinez set for Wednesday (9/19)
Esther Martinez, linguist and storyteller, dies at 94 (9/18)
Montana tribe uses technology to preserve languages (09/01)
House committee holds field hearing on languages (09/01)
House committee to hold field hearing on languages (08/30)
Oklahoma tribes work to preserve languages (08/29)
Pueblo woman keeps Tewa language, culture alive (08/28)
Eastern Cherokee Band to buy language translators (08/28)
Opinion: Native language preservation can't wait (8/28)
Pueblo woman wins National Heritage Fellowship (06/16)
Native languages slowly losing fluent speakers (7/28)
Arapaho elders certified to teach language (7/19)
Library of Congress to publish Zuni language works (7/13)
Eastern Cherokees work to preserve language (7/13)