WI DoT Embraces Dual Language Signs on Tribal Lands
Posted by crichards on Oct. 6, 2022 / Features / Subscribe 0
Wisconsin DoT is this month's featured organization for their new program working alongside native Wisconsin tribes to install bilingual road signs on tribal lands. The first of these dual language signs was installed in Red Cliff last year, with the second recently unveiled at the Oneida Nation Reservation last month.
"Dual language signs join a long tradition of Native American language shaping our state. The names of many Wisconsin cities, lakes and landmarks are derived from tribal languages," states the DoT. "Dual language signs create a sense of place that reflects the unique tie each Wisconsin tribe has to the land that embodies them as a people. They connect the public to Native American history, culture and environment, and support the sovereignty of Wisconsin tribes."
Bilingual street signs are viewed in many places as a key component of inclusion, particularly signs featuring the native language of an area. In Europe, many Celtic countries such as Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Cornwall have widely installed dual language street signs that feature Scots Gaelic, Irish Gaelic, Welsh, or Cornish alongside English. They have experienced how bilingual signs promote endangered languages and instill pride in native speakers, as well as attract tourists and convey additional information about a place or area.
Hopes are high that similar benefits will be seen here in Wisconsin thanks to the DoT's new program. There are 11 different federally recognized tribal governments in Wisconsin, encompassing several different languages, and applications are open for tribes to apply for their own dual language signs.
“Oneida Language is the first language of our ancestors and we appreciate the state of Wisconsin for their recognition and respect of our sovereignty, language and traditions,” Oneida Chairman Tehassi Hill said at the unveiling of the Oneida Nation sign. “Native preservation and languages go to the heart of a Tribe’s unique cultural identities, traditions, spiritual beliefs, and self-governance. We look forward to revitalizing the Oneida language through these signs.”
Well done to the WI DoT for supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in this simple yet highly meaningful way!
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