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WASHINGTON – Native American leaders and advocates testified on May 26 that COVID-19 has had a “devastating effect” on fluent language speakers. During a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Michelle Sauve, acting commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans, was one of several who addressed COVID-19’s impact on Native languages. “COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the elderly population, who are the keys to cultural continuity,” she said. “Elders are often the only first-language speakers and sometimes the only speakers for many Native languages. For example, the Kiowa Tribe in Oklahoma recently lost two of the tribe’s five fluent elder speaker mentors to COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, there were only 20 fluent Kiowa speakers out of a population of 12,000.”

United statesMichelle sauveGeorgehw bushChuck hoskin jrBrian schatzUs senate committee on indian affairsAdministration for native americansAmerican language resource centerNative americanIndian affairsNative americansKiowa tribeCherokee nationNative american language resource center actDurbin feeling native american languages actTom udall