Native American Heritage Month

November is National Native American Heritage Month, and the work of First Things First is rooted in a profound respect for tribal sovereignty. Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, and 19 of those tribes partner with us to prioritize and improve early childhood development, learning and health in their communities.

First Things First recognizes the international decade of Indigenous languages

First Things First recognizes that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared 2022 to 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. This designation aims to build a global community dedicated to preserving, revitalizing and supporting indigenous languages worldwide. It’s a crucial early childhood issue, as research shows that early childhood is the optimal time to learn a second language. Researchers from the University of Washington found that at birth, babies can distinguish between all 800 sounds found in the world’s languages, with each language using about 40 of those sounds.

Some First Things First regions implement a Native Language Preservation Strategy, providing parents and caregivers with tools to foster language development that aligns with their children’s age and cultural background. Click the blog below to learn more.

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