Elizabeth Sumida Huaman, Nathan D. Martin of Arizona State University, and Carnell T. Chosa, of the Leadership Institute of the Santa Fe Indian School recently published “Stay With Your Words”: Indigenous Youth, Local Policy, and the Work of Language Fortification.
The article focuses on the work of cultural and language maintenance and fortification with Indigenous youth populations. Here, the idea of work represents two strands of thought: first, research that is partnered with Indigenous youth-serving institutions and that prioritizes Indigenous youth perspectives; and second, the work of cultural and linguistic engagement that is often taken for granted as part of the sociocultural fabric of Indigenous communities where youth are active participants.