Theory and advocacy for indigenous language revitalization in the United States

The current moment is one of crisis and opportunity. Educators, linguists and Indigenous people have a rare opportunity to share perspectives and coordinate efforts to revitalize the Indigenous languages of the United States. The very sites used to destroy these languages (schools) are now the sites for reclaiming language (immersion schools). The disciplines used to colonize us as the “other” (e.g., anthropology and linguistics) now have a role in helping bring back languages through documentation. This chapter focuses on the work of coming together as we urge intellectuals, citizens of tribal nations, and the United States nation to seize the deep and lasting changes that this Indigenous movement has to offer.