This bill is named for Esther Martinez, who is credited for almost single-handedly saving the Tewa language.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-On December 9, in a voice cote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Esther Martinez Native Languages Program Reauthorization Act.
"The protection and preservation of our Native languages is crucial to the cultural identities and life ways of tribal citizens and the overall sustainability of tribal nations," said Kevin J. Allis, Chief Executive Officer of the National Congress of American Indians. "We are thrilled to see the House pass the Esther Martinez Native Languages Programs Reauthorization Act, which provides tribal nations the critical resources needed to ensure Native languages continue to be spoken for generations to come. We appreciate Representative Luján and Senator Udall's tireless efforts to get this important legislation through Congress."
The passage of the Esther Martinez Native Languages Programs Reauthorization Act comes after the U.S. Senate passed the bill in June by voice vote.
The act reauthorizes two Native American language programs until 2024 and expands eligibility for smaller-sized tribal nations by reducing classroom size requirements. In addition, the bill expands potential funding from three to five years for both programs.
This legislation will enable schools, tribal language departments, and other Native American language organizations to preserve and revitalize Native languages. Preserving Native languages will build stronger communities by sustaining and rejuvenating tribal cultures and traditions rooted in those languages. Additionally, it will facilitate better educational outcomes in tribal communities because Native language immersion programs have proven effective in promoting academic success among American Indian and Alaska Native students.
The bill is named after Esther Martinez who was a linguist and storyteller for the Tewa people of New Mexico until her death in 2006 in a car accident. She lived to be 94 years old, and was known for her commitment to preserving the Tewa language.
Martinez attended the Santa Fe Indian School and Albuquerque Indian School, graduating in 1930. "That she survived her years in boarding school and went on to help her community by perpetuating the language is a powerful statement," said her grandson, Matthew J. Martinez, who learned Tewa from her. "No matter the harsh conditions, she still carried that desire to hold on to her language and culture and document it and pass it on."
After graduation, she raised ten children and worked various jobs. In the mid-60s, a linguist asked her to help document the Tewa language. She worked with him during the 1960s and 1970s to develop a Tewa language dictionary. Her San Juan Pueblo Tewa Dictionary was published in 1982.
From about 1974 to 1989, Martinez translated the New Testament into Tewa, in association with Wycliffe Bible Translators. She also wrote a collection of stories, My Life In San Juan Pueblo: Stories of Esther Martinez, published by University of Illinois Press, which received the Elli Köngäs-Maranda Prize. Martinez received an honorary Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Northern New Mexico College in 2006, where she worked with the Northern Pueblo Institute. She also served as a traditional storyteller for the National Park Service.
The Esther Martinez Native Languages Programs Reauthorization Act will now head to the President for his signature.
