Purpose

To raise funds for AILDI participants and to celebrate 30 years of AILDI’s commitment to Indigenous language education.

Goal

To provide $25,000 or more in scholarships for Indigenous language students and educators to attend AILDI.

An invaluable & worthwhile cause

Every June, AILDI participants partake in this unique opportunity to be surrounded by community language organizers and educators , cultural specialists, practitioners, mentors, language and policy makers, tribal representatives, language advocates, professors, administrators, and undergraduate and graduate students, for one month, to focus on the reclamation and revitalization of their Indigenous languages, many of which are endangered. It is an exciting and unique program – and one that is threatened.

In the face of budget cuts, and dwindling financial resources for students, AILDI is taking steps to initiate a self-sufficient approach to bring in participants involved in Indigenous language education. The historical policies of the Federal Government in relation to Native American languages has recently made a reversal to allow tribes and nations to speak their Native American languages in school. Through the passage of the Esther Martinez Language Act, Native American tribes can move forward in the initiation of developing school curriculum to address their specific local needs.

How your monies are used

• $10,000 - Tuition and Registration for four students to attend an AILDI Summer Program.
• $5,000 - Tuition and Registration for two students to attend an AILDI Summer Program.
• $2,500 - Tuition and Registration for one student to attend an AILDI Summer Program.
• $1,000 - Partial tuition and registration for one student to attend an AILDI Summer Program.

How scholarship recipients are determined

Participants are required to submit an application along with their registration forms, as well as meet criteria set forth by the AILDI Scholarship committee. Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the closure of the summer AILDI program and will be asked to write a letter of gratitude to their sponsor who made this funding possible.

Click here to download our media packet.