American Indian Language Policy Research Center to Host International Indigenous Language Policy Research Symposium

The American Indian Language Policy Research and Teacher Training Center in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico will host an International Indigenous Language Policy Research Symposium, Thursday and Friday, April 23-24. A series of panel presentations and focus sessions sharing insights, observations and research will highlight the Center’s first-ever international symposium.Research about the long-term effect of policy development upon Indigenous languages has not always been available to Indigenous leaders, educators, and policy makers and how policies impact Indigenous language loss or maintenance. As advocates of Indigenous language survival, it is critical to understand more fully what these impacts are and what needs to be done to address these issues.

“The future survival of remaining Indigenous languages across the Americas has become an increasing area of concern among Indigenous groups engaged in emerging community-based and school-based language initiatives,” said Christine P. Sims, assistant professor, Language, Literacy & Socicultural Studies, College of Education and symposium organizer. “As these efforts have emerged, a major source of conflict has been the impact that social, economic, political and education policies have had on these languages. This symposium will raise awareness to impacts and will address issues of Indigenous language survival.”

SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW
Thursday, April 23 - SUB Ballroom C (9 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.)
· Opening Welcome by NM Indian Affairs Department Secretary, Alvin Warren.

· Morning Panel Presentations
Eileen & Grafton Antone, University of Toronto, Canada: “Canadian Policies that affect Aboriginal Language Renewal”

Luz Victoria Quishpe and Yolanda Teran, Ecuador: “How the Social and Economic Policies Have Impacted the Efforts to Maintain or Lose the Kichwa Language”

Tiffany Lee, University of New Mexico: “Developing a Critical Language Consciousness Among Indigenous Young Adults”

· Afternoon Breakout sessions: Zimmerman Library & SUB
Session A, B-30 Zimmerman (1:30-3 p.m.): Lois Meyer, University of NM, Dept. of LLSS: “Observing Language Revitalization Close-up: Inside Language Nests in Oaxaca, Mexico”

Session B, Room 254, 2nd Floor Zimmerman (1:30-3 p.m.): Rebecca Blum Martinez, University of New Mexico: “Developing a culturally appropriate framework for language assessment from an Indigenous functions based perspective of language.”

Session C, SUB Fiesta Rm.( 1:30-3 p.m.): Wes Collins & David & Diane Weber, Universidad Ricardo Palma: “A Year of language-based Development Training: What we Learned.”

Friday, April 24 - SUB Ballroom A
· 9 a.m.-11:50 a.m. - Morning Panel Presentations
Patricia Kelley, SIL International, Ecuador, Amazonia:
“The Waodani of Amazonia: A Case of School and Community based Efforts in the Survival of an Amerindian language”

Richard Schaefer & Carolyn Gonzales, UNM: U.S./Mexico: “Migratory Challenges to Indigenous Language and Culture”

Dra. Marta Bergara Fregoso, Jalisco, Mexico: “Problemas Y retos de las politicas de la educacion intercultural en Mexico.”

· 12-1:35 p.m. - Zimmerman Library, Rm. B-30. Brown Bag Session
Olga Basharina, Russian, University of New Mexico: “Language Policy and Planning in the Sakha Republic (Russia)”

Room 254, 2nd Floor: Walkie Charles & Marilee Coles Ritchie, University of Alaska, Fairbanks: “Impact of Standardized Tests on Language Teaching Practices: Perspectives of Yup’ik Eskimo teachers”

· 1:45-2:45 p.m. - Zimmerman Library, Break-out Sessions
Rm. B-30. Gilbert Brown & Duff Galda, University of Arizona: “Identifying Student Learning Outcomes from Traditional Diné Conceptualizations to Create a Culture Based Education Curriculum Grounded in Diné Epistemology.”

· 3-4:45 p.m. - Final Session Zimmerman Library, Rm. B-30
Symposium Presenters Convene for Final Summation and recommendations

Seating for the symposium is limited and early registration is encouraged. For more information about the event and the UNM American Indian Language Policy Research and Teacher Training Center contact Dr. Carlotta Penny Bird, program manager at (505) 277-0537 or via e-mail at: cpbirdsd@unm.edu.

Interested participants may also register by contacting Leau Phillips, Administrative Assistant, at the same telephone number or via e-mail at: lphill01@unm.edu.

Public parking will be available in UNM parking structures located on campus east of the UNM Bookstore on Central Avenue. For directions to metered parking areas and campus maps visit: Parking and Transportation.

Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu

Posted on April 13th, 2009 by hunwut
Filed under: Language