Indigenous Languages and Cultures
Partnering with Indigenous communities to sustain languages, cultures and ways of knowing
Partnerships with Indigenous communities are rooted in reciprocal relationships, community-based approaches, and the principles of self-determination and cultural humility. Sustaining and strengthening these partnerships through initiatives that honor and support Indigenous languages, cultures and ways of knowing is paramount.
Below, educators, leaders and community partners can
- Learn from community-led models to inform local language programs and assessments.
- Plan instruction and assessment that aligns with community values, using examples from WIDA publications, research reports and upcoming repository resources.
- Strengthen partnerships by drawing on concrete strategies for trust-building, shared decision-making and honoring Indigenous data sovereignty.
- Inform policy and systems work with evidence from working papers and reports that show how Indigenous-designed assessments can meet standards of validity and reliability while centering culture and language.
Our Commitments to Indigenous Partnerships
WIDA’s work around Indigenous languages and cultures grows from long-term relationships with communities who are revitalizing their languages and reshaping schooling around Indigenous knowledge systems. Current partnerships include the Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) and Yup’ik expert educators working on Yugtun language assessments, and the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy program launched in collaboration with Sealaska Heritage Institute in Southeast Alaska.
These collaborations are grounded in respect for sovereignty, community leadership, and the understanding that language learning is inseparable from land, culture, protocol and relationships. WIDA’s role is to work as an ally: contributing technical expertise in assessment and research while following community direction on purpose, process and use of results. Learn more about WIDA’s collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities.
Relationship-Building Commitments
Across projects, WIDA’s Indigenous languages and cultures team works from a set of relational commitments to the communities engaged in these partnerships.
Respect. Honor Indigenous knowledge systems, languages, oral traditions and governance. This includes recognizing historical and ongoing harms and engaging with communities through culturally grounded protocols, consent processes and continuous dialogue.
Reciprocity. Ensure that assessment, research and resource development are two-way exchanges that benefit communities. Findings, tools and data are returned in usable forms, and projects aim to strengthen local priorities rather than extract information.
Relevance. Focus questions, tools and outcomes on priorities that communities name as important, such as language continuity, intergenerational teaching, student well-being and educational sovereignty.
Responsibility. Take responsibility for how tools and data are used. This includes supporting community control over interpretation and sharing of assessment results, and planning for long-term partnership rather than short-term projects.
Other Tools and Resources
Read about community-rooted strategies from California Indian Education for All, Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) and Sealaska Heritage Institute. This Focus Bulletin offers classroom considerations, partnership guidance, and examples of initiatives that support language reclamation, identity and sovereignty.
This report documents WIDA’s partnerships with LKSD and the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy program, describing how technical assistance, community leadership and shared governance shape assessment development.
The paper examines the Yugtun Piciryaranek Qaneryaranek-llu Cuqyun (YPQC) Yup’ik Cultural Awareness subtest, including its focus on nonverbal communication and Yup’ik worldview as part of a larger Yugtun assessment system.
Conversations and Stories
These articles explore this work further. Get key takeaways and hear from some of the experts who have led this work in these two conversations.
Conversations with Tim: The Essential Work of Revitalizing and Preserving the Yugtun Language
An interview highlighting the YPQC project, the Yup’ik Expert Group and the importance of Alaska Native leadership in designing language assessments.
Conversations with Tim: Preserving Indigenous Languages and Cultures
A broader reflection on how Indigenous language work connects to identity, community well-being and long-term educational change.
Read the conversation about Indigenous language preservation