Oklahoma Indians criticize English-only measure

Thursday, February 8, 2007  

Oklahoma tribal leaders and members criticized a bill that would make English the "official" language in a state that is home to more than 30 tribes.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith said the bill makes the state look intolerant. He noted that a picture of Cherokee scholar Sequoyah, who developed the Cherokee syllabary but didn't speak English, hangs in the state Capitol building.

Tribal members who sit on the House General Government and Transportation Committee said the bill sends a bad message. "I think it's a slap in the face to Native Americans," said Rep. Jerry McPeak, a member of the Muscokee Nation, the Associated Press reported.

Despite the objections, the committee narrowly voted 9-7 to approve the bill. Rep. George Faught, the bill's sponsor, said it was aimed at immigrants who speak Spanish.

Get the Story:
American Indians oppose English-only legislation (AP 2/7)
pwpwd

Relevant Links:
Indigenous Language Institute - http://www.indigenous-language.org

Related Stories:
Kickapoo chairman criticizes 'Official English' bill (2/1)
Editorial: The fight to preserve the Navajo language (12/18)
Native language act signed into law by Bush (12/15)
Cherokee language appears on university team caps (12/12)
Native language bill finally clears Congress (12/8)
San Manuel Band hopes to save Serrano language (12/05)
Navajo Code Talkers lobby for Native language bill (11/14)
Dictionary to help preserve Han Athabaskan language (11/07)
Gathering celebrates Oklahoma tribal languages (10/24)
Celebration of Oklahoma Indian Language and Culture (10/19)
Eastern Band translates new book into Cherokee (10/03)
Tulalip Tribes lose last Lushootseed speaker (10/03)
Opinion: English comes first, not Native languages (9/27)
Esther Martinez language act up for House vote (09/25)
Man arraigned for crash that killed Pueblo storyteller (9/22)
Hundreds pay tribute to Pueblo storyteller, linguist (9/21)
Man charged with death of Pueblo storyteller (9/20)
Funeral for Esther Martinez set for Wednesday (9/19)
Esther Martinez, linguist and storyteller, dies at 94 (9/18)
Montana tribe uses technology to preserve languages (09/01)
House committee holds field hearing on languages (09/01)
House committee to hold field hearing on languages (08/30)
Oklahoma tribes work to preserve languages (08/29)
Pueblo woman keeps Tewa language, culture alive (08/28)
Eastern Cherokee Band to buy language translators (08/28)
Opinion: Native language preservation can't wait (8/28)
Pueblo woman wins National Heritage Fellowship (06/16)
Native languages slowly losing fluent speakers (7/28)
Arapaho elders certified to teach language (7/19)
Library of Congress to publish Zuni language works (7/13)
Eastern Cherokees work to preserve language (7/13)