Alaska Native languages legislation receives overwhelming support

Legislation to grant official status to Alaska's Native languages was introduced Tuesday in the Community and Regional Affairs Committee of the Alaska House of Representatives. HB 216 received overwhelming support, with testimony by many impassioned supporters and no opposing testimony.

The legislation would designate the twenty Native languages as co-official languages along with English. This would make Alaska the second state (after Hawaii) to adopt an indigenous language as an official language, and the first state to have more than one official indigenous language.

While the move may be largely symbolic, the cheers and testimony from the many supporters make clear that the legislation is far from meaningless. After more than a century of overt suppression, recognizing Native languages as official languages is an important step. The unanimous bipartisan support for this legislation reflects changing views toward Alaska's indigenous heritage. Throughout much of Alaska's history (at least following US purchase from Russia) Native languages have been at best ignored and at worst suppressed. Punishment of students for speaking Native languages was routine as late as 1970. A deeply entrenched fear of languages permeated American thought throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. America's sixth president, John Quincy Adams, wrote in 1811:

"The whole continent of North America appears to be destined by Divine Providence to be peopled by one nation, speaking one language...."

Even though Alaska passed a Bilingual Education Act in 1972, fear of Native languages lingered on, so that even as late as 1998 battles over English-only laws were still being fought.

Now HB 216 ushers in a new era for Alaska Native languages. Regardless of the eventual fate of the legislation, the effect is irreversible. The people have spoken, and their message is clear. Alaska's Native languages are unique and inseparable parts of Alaska's cultural heritage. English will continue to be Alaska's primary language of communication: it's fate is not in question, and it will continue to be an official language. But while English is undeniably useful and functional, it lacks the sustained connections with the land and people of Alaska which is such an important part of Native languages. Few English speakers in Alaska can trace their heritage to England, but all Alaskans can celebrate the cultural heritage of Alaska as expressed through Native languages. This is the land of the great mountain Deenaalee. The land of the great bear Nanuq. HB 216 finally makes that official.


Some News Links

• Bill Symbolically Makes Alaska Native Tongues State Languages (KTUU)
• Bill making 20 Native languages official advances (ADN)
• Supporters Cheer Alaska Native Language Bill (AK Public)
• House Community & Regional Affairs video archive