At a rapid rate, Indigenous languages around the world are becoming endangered. Individuals, linguists, and organizations are developing ways to preserve and rehabilitate native languages and cultures. Out of the 7,000 languages spoken around the world, three-quarters of the world languages are spoken by Indigenous peoples. Incredibly diverse, Indigenous languages represent the majority of the world’s linguistic and cultural heritage.

Students watch a 9-minute film, Marie's Dictionary by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, about a Native American woman who is the last fluent speaker of the Wukchumni language and the dictionary she created to keep her language alive. The film provides students an opportunity to learn how Marie Wilcox is revitalizing her language.

Available for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms (all also available in Spanish) the following lessons explore the impacts of Indigenous language loss and language revitalization efforts on Native communities. Through a variety of learning activities, students will explore the connections between language, landscape, family, and cultural heritage.