On October 23, Governor Sean Parnell signed House Bill 216 designating 20 Native languages as official languages of the State of Alaska.

Video: 20 Alaska Native Languages Become Official State Languages

ICTMN Staff
10/25/14

During the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell signed House Bill 216 designating 20 Native languages as official languages of the State of Alaska. He signed the bill amid cheering Alaska Natives gathered for the convention in Anchorage.

“It’s a recognition of the languages that compose a rich cultural landscape of this great state,” Parnell says in a video posted to YouTube. “It gives dignity and honor to those languages that exist and they should have had that honor so much sooner.”

“This is a historic moment for Alaska Native People. It is a victory for us, and all of our relations,” said Alaska Native Heritage Center President and CEO Annette Evans Smith in a press release. “It is for the 10,000 years of ancestors who came before and the 10,000 years that will follow us. They will know we fought for our languages and our way of life, and they will know that we won.”

Watch the signing here:

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Michael Madrid's picture
Michael Madrid
Submitted by Michael Madrid on
I'm surprised that Parnell (a Republican) would endorse this action as most of the Republicans I'm aware of are intent on making ONLY English the official language. Still, as nice a gesture as this was, I sincerely hope Alaskan Natives don't take the payoff and vote Democrat next week. Thank Parnell for his action, but don't trust him. Vote the rich, White men out of office and vote IN a Native candidate.
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Alaska Native Languages
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Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell