There are more than 800 indigenous languages in the Western Hemisphere. Language scholars estimate that before the time of Columbus, over 300 North American languages were spoken in North America north of Mexico. Since then, that number has dropped to about 175. One estimate predicts the number will dwindle to less than 20 by the year 2050.

When our children were sent to government boarding schools, they were severely punished for speaking our native languages, and over time many of them were nearly forgotten. Many indigenous languages of the Americas are endangered, and many others are extinct, with no living native speakers.

We believe that languages have a spirit all their own.

It is our vision for the future to once again hear whole generations of native people fluently speaking thier native languages. For as long as one person speaks a language, that language's people and traditions and history will survive and thrive.