Native American Languages

A photo of brother bear from Berenstain Bears holding a phone up to his ear

People in the Americas once communicated in thousands of languages. These indigenous languages carried unique histories, knowledge, and beliefs that formed the foundation of cultural identities.

Learn about contemporary language revitalization programs and hear audio of multiple native languages:

  • Sign language
  • Winter count by High Dog (symbolic pictures recounting 114 years of a Teton Dakota band’s history from 1798-1912)
  • Listen to and watch an animated The Berenstain Bears episode as told in Dakota
  • Listen to the pet magpie story in the Mandan language as told by Edwin Benson
  • Listen to Alfred Morsette explain in the Arikara language how summer came to the north country