Teacher & speaker Training
Certificate Programs
Indigenous Language Immersion (ILI)
Dr. Sheilah Nicholas
Indigenous Language Immersion (ILI) schooling is an innovative approach in which most or all instruction occurs in the Indigenous language, with a strong culture-based curriculum. ILI has proven to be an effective education practice that supports language acquisition, academic achievement and well-being for minoritized groups. The goal of the ILI Certificate program is to provide educators with tools to improve education practice for Native American learners while harnessing skills to meaningfully engage in ILI research, policy and implementation. Dr. Nicholas brings a wealth of ILI experience based on years of instruction at the Hopilavayi Summer Institute, as Immersion Consultant for the Indigenous Language Institute (ILI) and Co-PI on a national study “Indigenous Language Immersion and Native American Student Achievement”.
Mentor - Apprentice Learning in the Native American Language Classroom
Dr. Aresta Tsosie-Paddock
The Mentor-Apprentice method in the classroom and community-based adult education programs has shown efficacy in improving outcomes for classroom-based instruction and in community-based programs, where it is one of a few methods that have been shown to create new speakers (Hinton). Participants in the Master-Apprentice Learning in the Native American Language Classroom Certificate program will gain numerous hours of exposure to their language each week, requiring both master and apprentice to develop new language habits in order to create the desired immersion situation. Tsosie-Paddock’s integration of principles and practices of Mentor-Apprentice instruction allow students enrolled in Native American language classes to be paired with an elder mentor from their community, using teleconferencing where face-to-face interaction is not feasible.
UA students enrolled in language courses are eligible to participate in the Mentor-Apprentice language program. Two language courses are currently offered at UA, Diné Bizaad and Tohono O’odham language courses. Students can participate in MAP by being enrolled in either course. If a student’s native language is not part of a UA-offered language course yet part of the WRNALRC service area, they can enroll in an Independent Study (IS) student to work with a mentor. A strong attempt will be made to locate a fluent-speaking mentor who speaks the student ‘s heritage language. Dr. Zepeda or Dr. Tsosie-Paddock will supervise the IS students.
Indigenous Language Revitalization
Dr. Adrienne Tsikewa
Language revitalization refers to the efforts of a people or community to create language-learning programs and services to awaken their language or keep their language alive and flourishing. Please continue to check our website for more updates on this certificate offering.
Interested in participating in a Certificate program? Let us know.
NATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHER CertificaTION
ARIZONA Department of Education Native American Language Pre K - 12th Grade Certificate Information
This certificate is optional and authorizes the holder to teach the Native American language in grades PreK-12. This certificate is valid for 12 years and is renewable. Requirements may be subject to change and are fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and Administrative Code.
CALIFORNIA Commission on Teacher Credentialing American Indian Languages-Culture Credential
The American Indian Language-Culture Credential authorizes the holder to teach the specific American Indian language and/or culture listed on the document in departmentalized classrooms in preschool, grades kindergarten through 12, and in classes organized primarily for adults.
The American Indian Language-Culture Credential does not authorize instruction in any other subject or setting unless the individual holds an additional, valid teaching credential or permit that authorizes the assignment. In addition, the American Indian Language-Culture Credential is not an appropriate prerequisite credential for any other permit, credential or certificate and may not be used in conjunction with the local teaching assignment options that require possession of a teaching credential.
NEVADA Department of Education Great Basin Native American Language Code
In the early 1980's, a committee was formed to work with the Nevada Department of Education and the Professional Standards Committee. They testified before the Nevada Legislature to approve the Great Basin Native American Language (GBNAL). The GBNAL Nevada Administrative Code allowed teaching of one of the four tribal languages (Northern Paiute, Southern Paiute, Washoe and Western Shoshone) in the Nevada public schools. Also, the GBNAL endorsement allows fluent speakers from the tribes indigenous to Nevada to be certified and to teach in the Nevada public school.
NEW MEXICO Public Education Department Native American Language and Culture Certificate (Pre K-12)
A Native American Language and Culture certificate authorizes individuals to teach the native language and cultures of specific tribes and pueblos in any grade K through 12.
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
How Languages are Learned by Lightbown & Spada
REVITALIZING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
Success stories
Waadookodaading - Ojibwe Language Immersion School
Menominee Language Revitalization
INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE ADVOCACY & POLICY
In the US, there is no federal policy establishing "official" status for any language. Rather, the issue is adjudicated on a state-by-state basis. 31 states have declared English as the official language, including Arizona, California, and Utah (but not Nevada). The only states to have granted official status to an Indigenous language or languages are Alaska (20 languages), Hawaii (Hawaiian), and South Dakota (Dakota / Nakota / Lakota).
The Native American Languages Act (NALA) of 1990 makes it the policy of the United States to preserve, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages.
The Biden Administration considered developing a 10-year National Plan on Native Language Revitalization. The Plan would lay out a long-term, all-of-government strategy that works with Tribal Nations and, as appropriate, non-profit organizations, subject-matter experts, and other entities for the revitalization, protection, preservation, and reclamation of Native Languages.
PROJECT PLANNING & CONSULTATION
Grant Opportunities
National Endowment for the Humanities - Awards for Faculty at Tribal Colleges & Universities
The Awards for Faculty program seeks to strengthen the humanities at Tribal Colleges and Universities by encouraging and expanding humanities research opportunities for individual faculty and staff members. Awards support individuals pursuing humanities research that is of value to scholars, students, and/or general audiences. While the program welcomes proposals in all areas of the humanities, projects related to Indigenous knowledge that sustain and strengthen tribal languages and/or cultural traditions are especially encouraged.
next deadline April 9th, 2025
Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship
The LIKF is offered by First Nations Development Institute in partnership with The Henry Luce Foundation to honor and support a select cohort of fellows as they work to further Indigenous knowledge creation, dissemination and perpetuation in Indigenous communities. The intent of this fellowship is to support the exceptional creativity, progressive and critical thinking, and Native knowledge holders and knowledge makers as they move forward their field in ways that will ultimately lead to broad, transformative impacts for Indigenous communities.
next deadline May 7th, 2025
Administration for Native Americans Grants
The ANA offers funding opportunities relevant to language preservation and revitalization projects.
next deadline May 20th, 2025
Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program
The DECGP funds initiatives that ensure communities have the access and skills to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances. This program will complement digital equity activities funded by the Capacity Grant Program.
next deadline September 23rd, 2025
First Nations Development Institute - Native Language Immersion Initiative
First Nations launched the Native Language Immersion Initiative in 2017 to support new generations of Native American language speakers, and help Native communities establish infrastructure and models for Native language immersion programs that may be replicated throughout Indian Country.
Endangered Language Fund - Native Voices Endowment
Endangered Language Fund provides grants for eligible languages through the Native Voices Endowment: A Lewis & Clark Expedition Bicentennial Legacy. These funds come from the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council, which received the revenues from the U.S. Mint's sale of the Lewis and Clark 2004 Commemorative Coin. Grants through this program are available to members of the Native American tribes that came in contact with the Lewis and Clark Expedition between 1803-1806. Grants are available for work on documentation and revitalization of the languages of these tribes (see below for list of eligible languages). Applicants (Principal Investigators) must be enrolled tribal members or employees of tribal colleges. Scholarships for academic work in linguistics or a Native language, or for Master/Apprentice programs are also available for tribal members.
Grant Writing Support
Grant writing for Indigenous Languages by Dr. Ofelia Zepeda & Dr. Susan Penfield, is a manual aimed at assisting Indigenous community members with the construction and submission of grants for Documenting Endangered Languages (DEL), a program offered jointly by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).