Many Native American languages are at risk of disappearing, but there are strong efforts to bring them back. By focusing on language education, community programs, and cultural support, tribes are working hard to preserve their languages for future generations.
Here are some of the Native American languages that are being revived and the creative ways communities are ensuring they thrive once again.
1. Myaamiaataweenki – Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
The Miami-Illinois language was spoken in areas now known as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It belongs to the central Algonquian group, related to languages like Sauk-Meskwaki, Ojibwe, and Shawnee.
The language has two main dialects: Miami and Illinois. Miami was spoken along the Wabash River by groups such as the Piankashaw, Wea, and Miami.
The Myaamia language is being revived through programs, including language posts on Aacimotaatiiyankwi as part of this revitalization. (ref) Miami University’s Myaamia Center also uses resources like the National Breath of Life program with new teaching materials and methods to ensure the Myaamia language thrives. (ref)
2. Wôpanâak – Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts
The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project (WLRP) is a major collaborative effort aimed at revitalizing the Wampanoag language. The Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts is working alongside language experts, elders, and educators to bring back the language that was nearly lost. (ref)
The project focuses on language teaching, community involvement, and the creation of resources to make the language accessible again. This effort is part of the tribe’s commitment to reclaim its cultural heritage and ensure that the language is passed down to future generations.
3. O’odham – Tohono O’odham Nation
The O’odham language, spoken by the Tohono O’odham Nation, has faced significant challenges, and for many years, it has been in decline.
UNESCO has even declared it a “definitively endangered language” because it is no longer being passed down as the primary language in homes. (ref) However, like many other tribal nations, the Tohono O’odham people are actively working to bring their language back to life. (ref)
In January 2020, the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council approved funds to build a Tohono O’odham Language Center at the community college in Sells. They also allocated $900,000 from the O’odham Nation’s general fund to support the center’s creation and operation. (ref)
4. Chukchansi – Chukchansi Tribe of California
The Chukchansi people are one of the original groups to live in what is now called California. For over 12,000 years, they’ve called the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevada foothills home.
One of the tribe’s major efforts is using modern technology to develop a Chukchansi language dictionary with over 2,000 words, and a group of tribal youth is creating apps and games to teach the language. (ref)
In 2022, the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians created a Language Department to preserve their language. In 2010, the tribe worked with Fresno State professors to create a Chukchansi Dictionary, grammar guide, and teaching curriculum and translated 27 traditional myths to keep their stories alive for future generations. (ref)
5. Quechan – Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe
With fewer than 100 fluent Quechan speakers, the language of the tribe, located on the Arizona-California border, is at risk of extinction. The Quechan (Kwtsan or Yuma) language is already listed as an endangered language. (ref)
The Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe is working on language preservation efforts to ensure that the language continues to be spoken by future generations.
Other efforts may include educational programs, language learning tools, and community involvement to make sure the language is passed down.
6. Cherokee – Cherokee Nation & Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
The Cherokee Preservation Foundation has invested over $4.5 million in these efforts. This includes creating a 10-year plan with the help of local leaders and experts. The goal is to create a long-term path for language survival.
The tribe runs the Kituwah Academy, an immersive program teaching Cherokee to young children. This initiative aims to keep the language alive for future generations.
In 2024, the Cherokee Nation renewed the Durbin Feeling Language Preservation Act to protect the Cherokee language. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin signed the permanent renewal at a ceremony. The act, first passed in 2019, receives about $18 million annually for language preservation. (ref)
7. Dakota – Dakota Nation
The Dakota language, part of the Siouan family, was spoken across regions including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and parts of Canada. Isáŋti, or Santee Dakota, is a key dialect deeply rooted in the Dakota Nation’s culture and identity.
To support the Dakota language revival, Saskatchewan has made a significant step by adding the Dakota language to the list of Indigenous language curricula for secondary schools in the region. (ref)
In addition, the Lower Sioux Indian Community has been active in its own efforts to revitalize the Dakota language. These local initiatives are focused on making the language a central part of everyday life again.
8. Navajo (Diné Bizaad) – Navajo Nation
The Navajo language (known as Diné Bizaad) is an essential part of the Navajo Nation and has a rich history. Navajo Technical University (NTU) aids in preserving and strengthening the Navajo language.
The university’s efforts include offering courses that teach the language and providing programs that focus on sustaining it across its campuses.
At the University of New Mexico (UNM), Professor Tiffany S. Lee and her colleagues are conducting a significant study on the Navajo language’s importance to children’s well-being. The study is titled “Improving research to understand the link between holistic well-being of Diné children and families, and Diné bizaad.” (ref)
9. Hopi – Hopi Tribe
The Hopi (Hopílavayi) language is vital to the tribe’s culture, and efforts are underway to preserve it for future generations. First Things First (FTF), in partnership with the Hopi Tribe, sponsored the Hopi Lavayi Early Childhood Assessment Project.
The project studied language challenges facing Hopi children, ages birth to five. Its findings helped create sustainable strategies to preserve and teach the language. (ref)
In early 2024, the Hopi Language Symposium brought together experts, teachers, and community members to discuss preserving the Hopi language. Participants explored its grammar, sounds, and history to deepen their understanding and appreciation. (ref)
10. Lakota – Lakota Sioux Tribe
The Lakota language (also known as Lakȟótiyapi) is spoken by the Lakota people, who are part of the Sioux tribes. Sitting Bull College (SBC) is one of the key institutions leading the charge in preserving Lakota.
Through their Lakota Language Capacity Building Initiative (LLCBI), SBC is working to expand language programs and teaching materials to support deeper learning of the language. (ref)
The U.S. National Science Foundation funds these language efforts through programs like the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program and the Documenting Endangered Languages initiative. (ref)
Reviving these Native American languages is a powerful way to honor traditions and keep cultures alive. The efforts to teach, preserve, and celebrate these languages are bringing hope to many communities.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
