Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance-Esther Martinez Immersion

The Administration for Native Americans under the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing an upcoming solicitation for applications to the Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance program, specifically through the Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI) initiative. This program supports community-based projects aimed at preserving Native American languages by providing immersion-based instruction, ensuring these languages remain vibrant and actively used. Eligible projects must align with the definitions of either a Native American Language Nest or a Native American Survival School. Language Nests focus on early childhood education by offering instruction and care through Native languages to at least five children under seven years for a minimum of 500 hours annually per child. Survival Schools, on the other hand, target school-age children, providing instruction in Native languages for at least 10 students with a minimum of 500 instructional hours annually, serving as their main educational setting. This funding opportunity is designed to foster language revitalization efforts within Native communities by supporting structured immersion environments that correspond to the specifications laid out in the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act. Interested applicants can contact Carmelia Strickland at the Administration for Children and Families with the provided contact details for further information. The initiative underscores the federal commitment to sustaining Native languages through educational programs that immerse young learners, supporting both early childhood and school-age instruction models.