A Southeast Alaska state legislator wants action to save Alaska Native Languages.
Representative Dan Ortiz, an Independent from Ketchikan, introduced a resolution last week calling for Governor Bill Walker to “issue an administrative order recognizing a ‘linguistic emergency” for Alaska Native languages.
Ortiz said in a press release last Friday, “I don’t want to see any of our Native languages disappear, and will work with every member of the House and Senate to get this resolution to the Governor’s desk as soon as possible.”
The resolution comes after the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council issued a report detailing the continuing decline of the 20 recognized indigenous languages in the state. The council urged Governor Walker to take action.