Montgomery Hill, Presents and Futures in Indigenous Language Revitalization

Video Description

At the November 2024 Meeting of the American Philosophical Society, Rahnekawę̀:rih Montgomery Hill, PhD delivered a lecture titled "Presents and Futures in Indigenous Language Revitalization," exploring the challenges and opportunities of language renewal across Indigenous communities. His discussion examined the historical, political, and social dimensions of language loss and the innovative approaches being used to revitalize the Tuscarora language and other Haudenosaunee tongues. About the Speaker: Rahnekawę̀:rih Montgomery Hill, PhD, is a linguist and scholar specializing in Indigenous language and cultural revitalization. He earned his PhD in Linguistics from the University at Buffalo in 2020, where his dissertation, "Tuscarora Morphology & Language Revitalization," examined the structure of the Tuscarora language and strategies for its renewal. Dr. Hill is engaged in Haudenosaunee (Six Nations, Iroquois) Confederacy-wide efforts to restore linguistic and cultural traditions. His research extends beyond linguistics into historical narratives, Indigenous governance, and cultural philosophies, particularly the role of the Great Law of Peace as both a historical framework and a system of ethics and governance. His work also explores the revitalization of traditional governance structures, including the implementation of tribal wellness courts and community-based decision-making councils. Through his scholarship and activism, Dr. Hill is dedicated to ensuring that language, culture, and governance remain deeply interconnected, supporting Indigenous knowledge creation and community resilience. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction: Haudenosaunee Sovereignty & Land Acknowledgments 01:39 - The Historical Geography of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy 02:55 - The Complexity of Land Acknowledgments & Indigenous Presence in Philadelphia 04:37 - Colonial Erasure and the Need for Indigenous Representation in Urban Spaces 09:47 - Boarding Schools and the Lasting Impact on Indigenous Languages 11:27 - Experiences in Tuscarora Language Revitalization 14:55 - Adult Language Immersion Programs and Their Role in Language Recovery 17:05 - How Adult Language Immersion Creates New Speakers and Cultural Leaders 22:28 - Language Use, Identity, and Community Tensions in Revitalization Efforts 24:09 - Global Perspectives: Language Suppression and Revival as a Transatlantic Phenomenon 25:47 - Lessons from Hebrew Revival and Implications for Indigenous Languages About the American Philosophical Society: Founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin, the American Philosophical Society (APS) is the oldest learned society in the United States, dedicated to advancing useful knowledge across disciplines. The APS fosters intellectual exchange through: 🔹 Elected membership of distinguished scholars 🔹 Interdisciplinary meetings and collaborative research initiatives 🔹 A world-renowned research library and museum, preserving significant Indigenous historical and linguistic manuscripts 🔹 Grants, fellowships, and awards supporting research in Indigenous studies, linguistics, and cultural revitalization