Back to Hawaii News index

Posted: Saturday, April 29th, 2006 7:03 AM HST

Akaka introduces Native American Language bill

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka introduced the Native American Language Amendments Act Friday. He says it will help ensure that families across the country are never forced to relinquish their language or culture. Under his bill, the Secretary of Education would provide funds for the establishment of Native American language nests and language survival school programs. A nest is a language immersion program for the youngest members of a native population. The bill would also provide nests and survival schools with alternative methods of achieving national education standards. Senator Daniel Inouye is cosponsoring the measure. He says language is the heart of all cultures, and when a language withers, so, too, does its culture. (Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.)