Welcome To AIHEC
NATIVE LANGUAGES CENTER
A program designed and developed to integrate Native Languages in the most culturally respectful fashion.
NATIONAL TCU CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON
Native Languages
In collaboration with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, we are here to serve Tribal Colleges and Universities with the resources and implementation practices to best establish a Revitalization Native Language project.
Vision and Mission
Staff
Advisory Group
Scholars
Map of TCU Native Language Programs
Resources for TCU Language Programs
Events
Partner Organizations and Projects
Funding Opportunities
Success Stories
How to Start Language Revitalization Project?
Contact
NATIONAL TCU CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON
FUN FACTS
Reclaiming the Words of Our People Initiative: A Collaborative TCU Native Language Action Planning Project
is the first nation-wide initiative to bring together Tribal College and University (TCU) language faculty and staff to plan and create an institutional capacity-building process for Native language revitalization. Under this initiative, AIHEC will develop and implement a strategic plan for American Indian and Alaska Native language revitalization at the nations TCUs.
TCU language programs are unique, as in many cases they are the only academic institutions in the country, and even in the world, where these languages are taught. The AIHEC Native Languages initiative aims to connect and coordinate all TCU language programs, including the TCUs without current language course offerings.
TCU Native Languages: By the Numbers
300 indigenous languages were once spoken in the territory of the United States
175 indigenous languages remain today, and only a handful are still spoken by children
33 TCUs offer Native language courses
29 of the Native languages taught at TCUs represent ten Native language families
16 TCUs have degrees or certificate programs in Native languages
7 TCUs currently teach more than a single Native language
Native Language Families Taught at TCUs by Tribal Group
Siouan – Lakota, Dakota, Nakoda, Nueta (Mandan), Hidatsa, Apsalooke (Crow), Umoho (Omaha), Ho-Chunk
Algonquian – Cheyenne, Blackfeet, Anishinaabe, Cree, Aaniiih, Menominee
Athabaskan – Dine (Navajo), Apache
Uto-Aztecan – Tohono O’odham
Iroquoian – Oneida
Salishan – Salish, Lummi, Lushootseed, Whulshootseed
Penutian – Nez Perce
Muskogean – Muskogee (Creek)
Eskimo-Aleut – Inupiaq
Caddoan – Sahnish (Arikara)
Language isolate – Kootenai
TCU Native Language Capacity Building Process Includes
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