Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival

• Arts
  • Preservation of Cultural Heritage

Since 1992, Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival has helped California Indians to sustain their cultures through the preservation of language. Its biannual, week-long Breath of Life Workshop pairs University of California, Berkeley linguists and anthropologists with Native students interested in learning their tribal languages. Generally 60 Native applicants representing 20 to 30 languages attend the workshop, which includes representatives of the Bay Area’s Ohlone and Pomo tribes. For many Native students, reconnecting with their ancestral language serves as a critical step toward restoring their traditions.