June 13, 2016

Indiana Nonprofit Fights To Save Native American Languages

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — A Bloomington-based nonprofit is working to save Native American languages by making them more accessible to people of all ages.

The Indianapolis Star reports that the Language Conservancy primarily works with tribes in western states because there are no Native American languages in danger of extinction in Indiana.

The organization is co-organizing the third annual Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Summer Institute from June 27 to July 8 in North Dakota. Anyone who's interested in learning three endangered languages — Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara — will be taught how to read, write and speak them, as well as partake in cultural activities.

The organization also has created interactive textbooks and children's songs to build a way to teach the languages.

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