MichiganRadio

New Bill Seeks To Help Save Native American Languages LANSING, MI (MPRN) - Governor Granholm has signed a measure that will allow Native American elders to teach their native language to school children.

Jim Thunder Senior is a fluent Potawatomi language speaker. He says it's important to pass the language on to future generations.

And that's where the Native American languages bill started - with a tribe in the
U.P whose leaders wanted to save their dying language.

The bill would allow tribal elders and fluent speakers without teaching degrees instruct students for middle and high school language credits.

Representatives of The Hannahville Potawatomi Indian Community say this will help rescue their language by making it easier for elders to pass it along to younger generations.

Michigan's curriculum already allows students to earn credits for learning tribal languages.
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