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PRIORITY 2: Community planning and capacity-building initiatives Several "best practices" emerged during the study of worldwide efforts to restore endangered languages. Grotto encourages proposals from organizations that utilize these practices. New and creative ways by which to promote language learning will also be examined. The key to successful language revival is the creation of an environment that encourages the use of the language. It is an environment where elders feel it is safe and dignified to use Dakota iapi or Ojibwemowin, in which adults feel it important and honorable to use their heritage language, and in which young people know it is special and admirable to speak their Native tongue. Focus Community planning initiatives, including research projects that prepare a Native community to produce new and younger Native language speakers, will be considered. Communities, schools, and programs that will transmit Native language to younger generations may want to examine the role of technology in language acquisition, its organizational effectiveness, as well as receive technical support or expertise, or organize partnerships. Planning and research that examine internalized oppression and historical trauma -- and their effects on language revitalization efforts -- will add to the field of learning, as will the coordination of community-wide resources, initiating policy level changes or systems change that will foster language recovery and revitalization. Community planning and capacity-building efforts that focus on sustainable language acquisition efforts within a Native community will be prioritized. PRIORITY 3: Curriculum development projects and improving the quality of instructional material Curriculum is needed in all areas of Native language instruction. Grotto will consider curriculum projects that are creative, user-friendly, and multifaceted. Focus Broadening the field of learning by developing relevant tools and materials for learning for all ages will be considered. Curriculum projects must demonstrate the ability to undertake costly endeavors, such as the distribution of material, efficiently and cost-effectively, to formulate a clearinghouse of relevant materials, and to develop media products and marketing. PRIORITY 4: Technical assistance and resource sharing The Grotto Foundation may periodically engage in supportive activities that are deemed beneficial to its language initiative. Focus Grantmaking resources may be directed to the following activities:
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