Indian language bill passes House

HELENA – Rep. Rae Peppers, D-Lame Deer, told the House she can't speak her own language, Crow, because she had to attend a boarding school where her hair was cut and her mother tongue forbidden.

Peppers spoke Wednesday in support of House Bill 559, sponsored by Rep. George Kipp, D-Heart Butte. Kipp's bill, his first, passed the House 71-29 on second reading and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

The bill aims to continue the Montana Indian Language Preservation for two years at $750,000 a year.

Kipp said Montana tribes were encourage not to learn their languages. His dad earned a master's degree in English.

"Language is the conveyor of culture and fundamental to cultural preservation," he said. "Language is the tool that secures our culture, builds self-esteem and integrity — prime tools to combat social ills."

Rep. Randy Pinocci, R-Sun River, asked why the tribes haven't already "started it years ago without any funding from the Legislature?" he said. He voted no on Kipp's bill.

Kipp said tribes are making language preservation efforts, and his bill enhances those efforts.

Carolyn Pease-Lopez, D-Billings, said language is fundamental to preserving ideas that don't translate well. The Crow, she said, have a different word for "have" depending on whether what is had is a necessity or not. Place names in Native languages launch stories.

"We have tried in fits and starts" to preserve language and need help, she said. "When you lose the language, you lose the culture."

Rep. Nicholas Schwaderer, R-Superior, said he followed the project closely as a member of the state-tribal relations interim committee and saw first-hand its value and careful steps to be accountable for results and money spent.

"I saw the harm we were trying to fix was a government-caused harm," he said.

However, he was concerned with removing supervision from that committee to the state-tribal economic development commission. Schwaderer voted no on the program.

One opponent told the House he was troubled that tribes didn't seem to have any "skin in the game" via a matching contribution.

Kipp said that tribes provide in-kind contributions such as buildings and staff time.

"We do have buy-in," he said.

Pease-Lopez said tribes have invested money and effort into language preservation.

"It's not fluff," she said.

Copies of materials are supplied to the Montana Historical Society for archiving and for education.

Rep. G. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder, told the House his grandfather spoke multiple tribal languages.

"Tribal members are also citizens of Montana," he said.

Rep. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, said the bill will help preserve part of what makes Montana unique.

"It's not just about our Native friends; it's about Montana's history and culture," he said.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Inbody at kinbody@greatfallstribune.com. Follow her on Twitter at @GFTrib_KInbody.