US federal cuts: Tribe worries about future of Cree language | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Federal funding cuts impacting Native American communities
• Language revitalization programs for Native American languages
• Treaty obligations of the US federal government to Native American tribes
• Assimilation policies and their impact on Native American languages and culture
• The importance of language as a key component of Native American identity

Impact of Federal Funding Cuts on Native American Communities

Since January, the Trump administration has moved to cancel or freeze trillions of dollars in federal funding. These cuts are significantly impacting Native American communities, which heavily rely on federal funding for essential services like infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

The Case of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation and Cree Language Revitalization

The DW report focuses on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in Montana, home to the Chippewa Cree Nation. The community is actively working to preserve their language, Cree, which is facing extinction. The Cree language program costs $1 million per year and depends on federal funding. There are only about 80 fluent Cree speakers left, and none of the children speak the language.

Historical Context: Assimilation and Language Loss

Native Americans have faced centuries of marginalization and discrimination by the United States. Past policies aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream society, including suppressing their languages. As one interviewee states, "Since they couldn't eliminate us, they planned to assimilate...and one of the ways they did that was to eliminate our language because our language is our identity." The language is considered the key to their identity and culture.

Funding Uncertainty and the Future of Language Programs

The Cree language program operates "grant to grant, year to year," creating uncertainty about its future. The Trump administration's push to cut government spending raises fears that the program may not survive. Last year, the federal government provided over $30 billion to native tribes.

Treaty Obligations and Federal Law

For the tribes, this funding is not charity but an obligation mandated by treaties and federal law. They depend on federal funding for almost every program and are not self-sufficient.

The Threat to Indigenous Languages

The US is home to over 175 tribal languages. The Indigenous Language Institute warns that without restoration efforts, only 20 will survive by 2050.

Trump's Language Policy and Resistance

Many fear that President Trump making English the country's only official language will further undermine these efforts. As one student council member states, "he can say whatever language he wants to be the main one for America but we we have our own and we're going to keep that." The reservation student council is even more determined to protect their language for future generations.

The Goal of Language Revitalization

The ultimate goal of the language program is to hear one of their own babies speak Cree as their first language.

Why US Taxpayers Should Care

The Bureau of Indian Affairs officials stated that there are over 500 federally recognized tribes across the United Nations United States and they all have their distinctive languages and cultures. In the past, these languages have been tried to be wiped out by the federal government. This is an investment by the US taxpayer in the United States history the historical good and the cultural diversity of this nation.

Alternative Funding Sources

If federal funding is cut, tribes will look into charitable organizations and other nonprofits for support. However, raising a million dollars for a single language program, among many other programs, is challenging without federal funding.

Conclusion:

The potential cuts to federal funding pose a significant threat to Native American communities and their efforts to preserve their languages and cultures. The loss of funding could jeopardize language revitalization programs and further erode Native American identity. The situation highlights the importance of treaty obligations and the role of the federal government in supporting Native American communities.