Social Security is Translating More Materials in Native Languages
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 14, 2024
The loss of Native languages in this country is a direct result of the Indian Boarding School System run by the federal government for 150 years. (Federal Investigative Report findings.) In October 2024, President Joe Biden issued a “long overdue” formal apology for the abuse suffered by Native children forced to attend Indian boarding schools. Children were forbidden from speaking their Native languages and were harshly punished if they disobeyed.
National revitalization efforts to revive and preserve Native languages are showing promising results, leading to an increase in the use of Native languages.
We now translate, print, and distribute materials in appropriate Social Security offices in Yup’ik and Diné, 2 Native languages. Our offices nationwide display posters with the message, “Share Your Race and Ethnicity & Help Us Improve Service and Access”. The poster is translated into 24 languages, including Yup’ik and Diné.
More recently, our Office of Native American Partnerships is using a contract managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to translate more publications into Yu’pik (Central dialect) and Diné, plus 3 other Native languages:
- Cherokee (Western dialect)
- Ojibwe (Western dialect)
- Lakota
The estimated total population in Navajo Nation (reservation and off-reservation trust land) is 165,000, according to 2020 Census data. Currently we have 10 employees certified as Navajo interpreters and translators. We recognize the need to provide interpreters and translators in more Native languages, and we are actively seeking suggestions through Tribal Consultation. Our goal is to build new partnerships with third-party organizations to recruit and hire bilingual employees who will provide customer service support in Native languages.
Note: We provide free interpreter services in many languages, including Native languages, over the phone and in Social Security offices. For details, visit our Multilanguage Gateway.
Please read our blog post announcing our first Native Language Action Plan, one more way we are actively supporting Native language revitalization. For more information, visit our American Indian/Alaska Natives and Tribal Consultation Official webpages.
To learn more about our mission to improve equity and access to our services for customers who primarily communicate in languages other than English, visit our Advancing Equity page.
Please share this update with others who are committed to Native language revitalization.
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Bob D.
Voice of Bob in shower singing
Nadine P.
Bob,thats an evil unecessary thing to say.you sound like the very people that disenfranchised Native people,African Americans,Hispanics and other people that are considered of color.We are all from somewhere as I hope you know.We have all fought and died for this nation.No one should be told to go back where you came from especially if your here legally and are a law abiding citizen.STOP THE HATE.
Twynn
It’s an admirable effort on the part of the Social Security Administration. It’s been a disgrace to our nation on how Native Americans have been treated. Please keep up the the amazing work you do.
Leianna R.
Instead of requiring the new implants into our country to learn English the woke government bends to the immigrant at a vast $cost$ to those who did learn our language as children or adults! This will never stop and YOU will always be paying for it.
Blackfoot V.
Lei Anna,
Remember that the “our” country in which you speak belong to my people the dark brown Indian. The white man stole, kill, robbed and cheated a land that did not belong to him. It’s time to right wrongs that this country has and continue to do to the original owners. As we embark upon another Indigenous Day( Thanksgiving) let’s remember the people that died or were forcibly moved away as we enjoy our meal and families.
Linda B.
Well said, truth is sometimes
difficult to accept, but true historical accounts from the descendants of our ancestors needs to be told.
Thank you very much for speaking out on the inequality of our native citizens.
Jeanne
This article ends recommending the reader share it with others, but I see no way to do that – no link, not shareable.
Govindra B.
I need a social security card.
Having numbers that would enable me to live a few days peacefully in the US 🙏
Stop sending me long long dramatic things to waste my time.
Bob
Go back to where you came from, live peaceably there.
Bob
Doebob@gmail.com
Bob in the shower singing