The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), which comprises the nation’s 37 TCUs, is committed to reclaiming the words of our peoples. Through the AIHEC National TCU Center of Excellence on Native Languages, we propose to establish a vibrant community of practice among TCU Native languages faculty, researchers and partners. Our goals are to implement and continuously improve a Tribal Native Language Revitalization Strategy that will build TCU and Tribal community capacity, leverage scarce resources and ensure that each TCU language program (and eventually all Tribal language programs) have the infrastructure needed to allow their languages to thrive.

TCU Native language programs are authentic and unique. They are located in the communities where these languages are spoken. Some are the only academic institutions in the world where these Native languages are taught. The Center of Excellence initiative aims to develop a Networked Improved Community among the TCU language programs and Tribal language programs at large. In essence, it will be a virtual network of TCU language faculty, experts and elders within a national ecosystem of Indigenous language experts and practitioners.

To learn more about resources and funding opportunities available to TCU and Tribal communities click on the links below.