Washington, D.C. - Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) today introduced legislation to promote the rights and freedoms of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages.  The bill, the Native American Language Amendments Act (NALA) of 2006, is cosponsored by Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) and Max Baucus (D-MT).

"This bill is of particular importance to me because as a young child, I was discouraged from speaking Hawaiian and practicing Hawaiian customs and traditions because I was told that it would not allow me to succeed in the Western world," stated Akaka.  "Through this legislation I am working to ensure that our children and families in Hawaii and across the country are never put in a position where they are forced to relinquish their language or culture."

According to Senator Akaka, Native Hawaiian Language Immersion schools in Hawaii are achieving great success by shaping our youth who are steeped in not only the language, traditions, and knowledge of their ancestors, but who are also empowered and equipped with the tools to combat contemporary challenges that confront our communities.

Senator Inouye added:  "Language is the heart of all cultures. When a language withers, so, too, does its culture. Hawaii has shown that when there is renewed interest in the native language, the native culture flourishes. 

"This legislation will ensure that native languages and native cultures will have the opportunity to thrive and flourish.  It also encourages elders to teach our future leaders about their unique cultures."

The NALA Amendments Act of 2006 will:

• Amend the current NALA to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide funds to Native American Language Educational Organizations, Native American Language Colleges, Indian tribal governments, organizations that demonstrate potential to become Organizations, or a consortia of such organizations, colleges, or tribal governments to establish Native American Language Nest and Survival School programs.
• Authorize the Secretary to make grants to or enter into contracts with such Organizations, colleges, governments, or consortia to operate, expand, and increase Native American Language Survival Schools throughout the United States to Native American children and Native American language-speaking children.
• Establish at least 4 demonstration programs in geographically diverse locations to provide assistance to Nests and Survival Schools and participate in a national study on the linguistic, cultural, and academic effects of Nests and Survival Schools.
• Authorize demonstration programs to establish endowments for furthering their activities relative to the study and preservation of Native American languages; and use funds to provide for the rental, lease, purchase, construction, maintenance, and repair of facilities.
• Provide Nests and Survival Schools with alternative methods of achieving national education standards with respect to Native American Language education.
• Establish criteria to certify and designate eligible professionals at Nests and Survival Schools for the Secretary's approval.
• Authorize sums as necessary to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2007-2012.

"Action and investment in the preservation of Native languages is needed," said Senator Akaka.