Native language preservation bill becomes law

[Waya]

A bill that will help tribes preserve their languages was signed into law by President Bush on Thursday.

H.R.4766, the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act, authorizes funding for new programs that tribes will use to prevent the loss of their heritage and culture. "These languages will be preserved with attention and effort. Once lost, they will never be recovered," said Ryan Wilson, the president of the National Indian Education Association.

The act took on significance this fall following the death of Esther Martinez, a Native language teacher and storyteller from New Mexico. She was killed in a car accident on September 16, just days after receiving a National Heritage Fellowship award for her efforts to preserve the Tewa language.

"The Native languages were precious to Esther Martinez, and this bill is designed to help preserve them," said Wilson. "It is a fitting tribute to her life's work."

New Mexico's Congressional delegation worked to pass the bill in the closing weeks of the 109th Congress. It had passed the House in September but was held up in the Senate and failed to gain approval before the November elections......


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