The Lobo Language Acquisition Lab presents the #CelebrateBilingualismNM Speaker Series, a free one-hour virtual event on Friday, May 5 from 1-2 p.m. The event will feature a presentation by Christine Sims (Acoma Pueblo). She will discuss the importance of prioritizing the foundations of learning language and culture in the lives of Native communities, families, and young children.

Sims is an associate professor in the Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies and the director of the American Indian Language Policy Research & Teacher Training Center at the University of New Mexico. She is also a co-coordinator of a K-12 curriculum project: 100 Years of State and Federal Policy: The Impact on Pueblo Nations Curriculum.

Sims' work focuses on outreach to tribal communities, particularly to Native speakers teaching languages in communities and schools, in regard to issues of language planning and training. Her presentation will address the importance of re-centering language acquisition and culture among children ages zero to five, and will explore the support, and challenges of these efforts as well as opportunities for expanding understanding of Native language development in young children.

ASL interpreters will be provided. To inquire about specific access needs, email Aster Forrest at asterforrest@unm.edu.

The Zoom link to attend is https://unm.zoom.us/j/9655267846.

For more information and to register for the event, visit tinyurl.com/christine-sims.

The Lobo Language Acquisition Lab thanks the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for its support of the lab and this speaker series.