Crossing Mountains

Native American Language Education in Public Schools

By (author) Phyllis Ngai

Publication date:

15 March 2012

Length of book:

298 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

ISBN-13: 9780759121225

Collaboration among contemporary Native American communities and local public schools is vital for nurturing Native languages. Although public schools cannot bear the entire burden, Native-language education will remain on the margins without their support. Using case studies of school districts on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana, Crossing Mountains provides important insights about integrating Native-language learning into public education. Phyllis Ngai argues that carefully designed and inclusive Native-language programs can benefit communities and students regardless of ethnic identity by providing for language-revitalization and promoting intercultural competence.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1. The Context of Native American Language Education in Montana
Chapter 2. How Can Public Schools Help? A Local Inquiry
Chapter 3. Salish Language Education: A Record of Heroic Steps in the Face of Steep Obstacles
Chapter 4. Collaborative Possibilities for Enhancing Native American Language Education: Grassroots Suggestions
Chapter 5. Churchill School District: The Balancing Act
Chapter 6. Elkhorn School District: Leading the Way
Chapter 7. Mountainview School District: Breaking the Barriers
Chapter 8. Building a Bridging Native American Language Curriculum
Chapter 9. Native American Language Learning as Place-based Multicultural Education
References
Appendix 1
About the Author

Phyllis Ngai carefully and thoughtfully captures the voices of stakeholders in Salish language education. Crossing Mountains demonstrates how an understanding of the relationships between Native and non-Native communities is needed to establish indigenous languages as a vital part of public education. This text is a 'must read' for those interested in indigenous language advocacy.