§2901 — Title 25 Indians | U.S. Code

Summary

Congress says the United States must work with Native American peoples to protect and keep their cultures and languages alive. It recognizes Native Americans have a special status that includes cultural and political rights and the right to keep their separate identities. The law says Native languages are central to passing on history, religion, laws, and values. It notes there has been a history of treating these languages as outdated and of actions that have harmed or tried to erase them, partly because federal policy has not been clear. Respecting a child’s first language helps school success, pride, and opportunity. It is in the country’s interest to support these goals because language is essential to a people’s cultural and political survival and helps people communicate across borders.

Title 25, §2901

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Congress finds that—

(1)the status of the cultures and languages of Native Americans is unique and the United States has the responsibility to act together with Native Americans to ensure the survival of these unique cultures and languages;

(2)special status is accorded Native Americans in the United States, a status that recognizes distinct cultural and political rights, including the right to continue separate identities;

(3)the traditional languages of Native Americans are an integral part of their cultures and identities and form the basic medium for the transmission, and thus survival, of Native American cultures, literatures, histories, religions, political institutions, and values;

(4)there is a widespread practice of treating Native Americans 11 So in original. Probably should be “American”. languages as if they were anachronisms;

(5)there is a lack of clear, comprehensive, and consistent Federal policy on treatment of Native American languages which has often resulted in acts of suppression and extermination of Native American languages and cultures;

(6)there is convincing evidence that student achievement and performance, community and school pride, and educational opportunity is clearly and directly tied to respect for, and support of, the first language of the child or student;

(7)it is clearly in the interests of the United States, individual States, and territories to encourage the full academic and human potential achievements of all students and citizens and to take steps to realize these ends;

(8)acts of suppression and extermination directed against Native American languages and cultures are in conflict with the United States policy of self-determination for Native Americans;

(9)languages are the means of communication for the full range of human experiences and are critical to the survival of cultural and political integrity of any people; and

(10)language provides a direct and powerful means of promoting international communication by people who share languages.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

of 2023 Amendment Pub. L. 117–337, § 1, Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6153, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 2907 of this title and amending section 2905 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act of 2022’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 101–477, title I, § 101, Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1153, provided that: “This title [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Native American Languages Act’.”

§2901 Findings

Summary

Title 25, §2901

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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Citations & Metadata