In this jubilee year of International Mother Language Day, a new generation of Indigenous artists, creatives, and educators is passionately working to promote the resurgence of Native languages. As we reflect on the alarming statistic that a language dies every 40 days, it becomes clear that preserving these languages is crucial for maintaining cultural identity and heritage.  With approximately 167 Indigenous languages currently spoken in the U.S. alone, and estimates suggesting that only 20 may remain by 2050, the urgency of language preservation cannot be overstated.

The Esperanza Project has compiled a roundup of inspiring individuals dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous languages, showcasing the resilience and creativity of our communities in the face of language loss.

Established by UNESCO in 1999, this observance honors the sacrifices made by those who fought for their language rights, particularly the Bengali students who protested in 1952 for recognition of their language in what is now Bangladesh. This year’s theme emphasizes the critical link between language preservation and cultural heritage. It highlights the need for inclusive education and public services that respect and incorporate Indigenous languages.

Music

• Lyla June (Navajo/Diné): A musician, scholar, and community organizer, Lyla June blends Indigenous languages with hip-hop and folk, addressing healing, ecological justice, and cultural revival. Her performances resonate with emotional depth and cultural significance. Her new album, Hózhó, takes its title and inspiration from perhaps the most powerful Diné word of all: it’s loosely translated as peace, balance, beauty and harmony. To be “in Hozho” is to be at one with and a part of the world around you.

• Wade Fernandez (Menominee): Wade integrates the Menominee language into his soulful music, using storytelling to promote cultural preservation and inspire younger generations. Sawaenemīyah (We Are Blessed) is performed entirely in the Menominee language and serves as a prayer for Grandmother Earth’s children.
  
• Xiutezcatl Martínez: Known as X, Xiuhtezcatl Martínez is a hip-hop artist and environmental activist who incorporates his Mexica heritage into his music. His lyrics blend English, Spanish, and Nahuatl, raising awareness about climate justice and Indigenous rights. Tracks like Tiahui (which means “forward” or “let’s go” in Nahuatl) reflect his connection to Indigenous identity and culture.
  
• Sara Curruchich (Kaqchikel Maya, Guatemala): A rising singer who uses Kaqchikel in her music, promoting Indigenous culture on a global stage. She is the first indigenous Guatemalan singer-songwriter to bring her songs in Kaqchikel – her native language – and Spanish to an international level.
  
• Pat Boy, aka Jesús Pat Chablé (Yucatec Maya, Mexico) is a Mexican singer who has led the growing Maya-language rap movement in Mexico. He is one of the founders and producers of ADN Maya films, a record label for other Maya-language musicians and artists.
  

• Ketrafe (Mapuche/Argentina) Ketrafe, a talented Mapuche composer, whose name means “the one who plows the earth” in Mapuzugun, uses his music to celebrate and promote Mapuche culture and language. Through his performances and collaborations, Ketrafe actively contributes to the revitalization of Indigenous languages, engaging audiences with contemporary sounds that honor traditional roots.
  

Visual Arts

• Awanigiizhik Bruce (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa): Awanigiizhik’s art reflects Indigenous worldviews, exploring themes of identity and resilience. Their work has been showcased in exhibitions celebrating contemporary Indigeneity. Awanigiizhik brings practices from ancestral traditional revitalization to the exploration of Indigenous futurism. Currently, they are developing a body of work synthesizing quillwork, birch-bark basketry, and robotics, and designing Ojibwemowin visual resources for Turtle Mountain College.
  

• Gwen Westerman (Dakota/Cherokee): As an artist and poet, Gwen creates quilts inspired by her Dakota history, language, and culture. Her art and co-authored book significantly contribute to Dakota cultural preservation. She is an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota Oyate, her father’s people, and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, her mother’s people.
  
• Agnes Yellow Bear: Agnes Yellow Bear is a Plains Cree artist residing on the MHA Nation. She combines her passion for sewing with social justice advocacy, empowering Indigenous communities through her art. As a Sixties Scoop survivor and the daughter of a residential school survivor, Agnes uses her lived experiences to address issues like Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Her work often tells stories through fabric, creating pieces that inspire conversation and challenge societal norms. Find her creations and her reflections, frequently featuring her native Cree language, on her Instagram, @ReCREEations. 

• Rember Yahuarcani, an artist from the Uitoto people of Peru, incorporates his native language into his visual narratives, exploring the cosmogony of his culture through his artwork. His pieces often feature descriptive captions in the Uitoto language, helping to educate audiences about his heritage while preserving linguistic traditions.
  

Film and Digital Media

• Sterlin Harjo (Seminole Nation): The creator of Reservation Dogs, Sterlin Harjo highlights Native life in Oklahoma, featuring Indigenous languages and stories. Harjo’s film Mekko features characters speaking the Muscogee (Creek) language. But the principal way Harjo has promoted Native languages is through authentic representation of Native life. He achieves this by employing all-Indigenous writers, directors, cast, and production teams, ensuring that Native voices and stories are genuinely portrayed.
  
• Ariel Kuaray Ortega (Mbyá-Guarani/Brazil) is a pioneering Indigenous filmmaker who actively promotes native language through his cinematic work. His films, such as “Mbyá Rembiapó Nhemombe’u,” not only showcase the rich cultural narratives of the Mbyá-Guarani people but also incorporate their language, serving as vital tools for cultural preservation and education. Through his storytelling, Ortega highlights the importance of Indigenous languages, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of his heritage among diverse audiences.
  
• Jayro Bustamante (Maya/Guatemala). His acclaimed film “Ixcanul” (2015), which tells the story of a young Mayan woman navigating life on a coffee plantation, was submitted for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards and has been praised for its authentic representation of Indigenous culture and language. Bustamante’s subsequent film, “La Llorona” (2019), also garnered critical acclaim, becoming the first Central American film nominated for a Golden Globe, further solidifying his impact on the global stage while promoting Indigenous narratives and languages.

Literature

• Ramona Emerson (Diné): Ramona’s writing and filmmaking focus on Indigenous narratives, revitalizing Native languages through storytelling and exploring complex themes of identity.
  
• Inés Hernández-Ávila: Focuses on Niimiipuutimtki, the Nez Perce language, and the Maya Tsotsil and Maya Tseltal languages of Chiapas. She also promotes language revitalization through creative writing in Indigenous languages.

Supporting Indigenous Voices: A Call to Action

These artists and creators represent just a glimpse of the vibrant Indigenous creative community working to preserve and revitalize Native languages. Their work not only maintains crucial cultural connections but also builds bridges between communities, fostering understanding and appreciation of Indigenous perspectives in our modern world.

The preservation of Indigenous languages through art, music, film, and literature isn’t just about maintaining words—it’s about keeping alive diverse ways of knowing and being that enrich our collective human experience. As we face the possibility of losing most Native languages by 2050, supporting these creative voices becomes increasingly vital.

You can make a difference by engaging directly with Indigenous artists: attend their performances, purchase their work, stream their music, and share their stories. Follow them on social media, support Indigenous-led organizations focused on language preservation, and learn about the Indigenous languages of your region.

When we support Indigenous artists and language preservation efforts, we’re investing in the future of cultural wisdom and traditional knowledge. These artists show us that language preservation isn’t about looking backward—it’s about carrying ancient wisdom forward into new forms of expression that speak to contemporary audiences while honoring ancestral traditions.

Agnes Yellow Bear Awanigiizhik Bruce Gwen Westerman Inés Hernández-Ávila Jayro Bustamante Ketrafe Lyla June Johnston Pat Boy Ramona Emerson Rember Yahuarcani Sara Curruchich Stirlin Harjo Xiuhtezcatl Martinez