Indigenous Language Reclamation Through Community Partnerships: Strategies for Sustainable Growth

As educators, leaders, and community partners dedicated to supporting Indigenous students, we share a responsibility to sustain and revitalize languages and cultures that have often been underrepresented in educational spaces. Indigenous language and culture reclamation goes beyond simply keeping languages and cultures alive; it is also about affirming identity, strengthening sovereignty, and nurturing resilience. This Focus Bulletin highlights strategies and examples of how community partnerships can sustain Indigenous languages and cultures. Drawing from the experiences of WIDA’s Indigenous partners — California Indian Education for All, the Lower Kuskokwim School District, and Sealaska Heritage Institute — it showcases practices that foster trust, center Indigenous knowledge, and advance educational sovereignty. Educators will find practical classroom considerations, insights for creating culturally sustaining learning environments, and guidance for cultivating respectful and reciprocal partnerships with Indigenous communities. These perspectives emphasize how community-rooted collaboration can support Indigenous students’ success as well as honor the vitality of their languages and cultures.

Released September 2025