AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE AILDI
31 Years of Commitment to Indigenous Language Education
520-621-1068
www.u.arizona.edu/-aildi
aildi@email.arizona.edu
University of Arizona
MISSION STATEMENT
The American Indian Language Development Institute’s (AILDI) mission is to mobilize efforts to document, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages, reinforcing the processes of intergenerational language transfer. AILDI plays a critical role in ongoing outreach, training and collaborative partnerships with educators, schools and indigenous communities nationally and internationally through the use of multiple resources.
“Microteaching was a challenging and exposing experience. It exposed areas where I needed to grow as a teacher and a language learner. It also challenged me to continue learning- it can only get better.”
HISTORY
AILDI was founded in 1978 with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The proposal was drafted by Lucille Watahomigie, a Hualapai educator and language activist and Dr. Leanne Hinton, a linquist, from the University of California, Berkeley. also involved were Dr. Akiro Yamanoto, Dr. Teresa McCarty and Dr. Ofelia Zepada.
Since the establishment of AILDI at our current location at the University of Arizona, the institute has grown to include a wide range of languages and cultures. Our faculty members travel from different parts of the country and bring with them rich experiences of working with Indigenous language communities.
“AILDI has definitely changed my perception about education in multicultural settings.”
IMPACTS
AILDI has made significant contributions to Indigenous communties in all areas of language learning, teaching and research. These include:
. Bringing language communities and academic communities: Dr. Shelah Nicholas (University of Arizona & Hopi Language Institute); Jennie DeGroat (Northern Arizona University & Cibecue Immersion)
. Drafting of the Native American Languages Act (NALA) of 1990 (Public Law 101-477)
. Sister programs: Oklahoma Native American Language Development Institute (DNALDI). Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI); Northwest Indian Language Institute (NILI)
. Funding received by NSF-NEH DEL grant (2000-2008) #0549189. SGER: Increasing Competitive research among Tribal Communities for Decomenting Endangered Languages. Funded 20 participantgss to enroll in Grant Writing & Language Documentation. 3 of 11 teams were awarded grants.
. Funding receive by NSF grant (June 2009-May 2010) for project entitled “Reviewing the Documentation of Our languages: An Indigenous Perspective”. The grant funded 10 students with full support to enroll in the Documentary Filmaking for Endangered Languages course at AILDI. In addition, DEL fellows were invited to paricipate as panelists and/or facilitators at our 30th Anniversary AILDi Symposium.
“Throughout the years, I gained a lot from AILDI, especially in Native ways of teaching and learning epistemology.”
AILDI MODEL
AILDI is a summer residential program centered on a specific theme. Our participants enroll in two 3-unit courses that are transferable to UA degrees and other universities and college. AILDI courses are designed to train participants to apply their knowledge and skills in their teaching at school or in the community, as well as to learn methods that incorporate appropriate linguistic and cultural knowledge into the curriculum. In addition, participants share their :microteaching” lessions (short lessions that are taught in an indigeours language) that intergrate concepts and ideas from classes taken during AIDI.
TOPICS
. Alternatives Spaces for revitalization: Indigenous Language and Indentity in Film
. American Indian Language Immersion: Level 1 & 2
. Ancient and Contemporary Voices
. Computer Ap0plications for Language Teaching
. Creating in the Language
. Creative Writing for Native Americans
. Curriculum & Instruction in Bilingual & Second Language Settings
. Grant writing for Indigeous Communties
. Linguistics for Native American Communities
. Native Children’s Literature in the Classroom
. Oral Traditions
. Schooling in Native America
SPECIAL EVENTS
. Class presentations
. Conferences, symposiums and workshops
. Cultural activities and performances, such as the Bahidaj (sahuaro fruit) harvest
. Guest lectures by internationally and nationally known language educators and researches
. Poetry readings
“I’m here for a purpose. Someone was praying for me to reach higher in my educational goals. With a higher education and surrounded by mountains- I can move mountains. I will reach out as an advocated for my community members. This has always been ther dream to revive our language. For it’s who we are.”
