This page provides resources for learning Indigenous languages. The DPUL Indigenous Cultures collection includes digitized materials from Princeton's collections related to several Indigenous languages. A study conducted by Kathia Ibacache using data from the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) revealed the exceptional collections at Princeton in seven Indigenous languages: Quechua, Nahuatl, Guaraní, Zapotec, Maya, Mapudungun, and Aymara. For information, see Ibacache's article “University Libraries as Advocates for Latin American Indigenous Languages and Cultures.” College & Research Libraries., vol. 82, no. 2, 2021, https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.82.2.182.
Princeton’s Indigenous Language Alliance is a community for individuals at Princeton and beyond who are learning or would like to learn Indigenous languages and who are interested in language revitalization.
The Office of the Dean of the College supports the new initiative Less-Commonly Taught Language (LCTL) for undergraduates pursuing summer study of languages that are not offered for credit-bearing study at Princeton. This program is particularly designed to support students pursuing language learning in areas that are relevant to their course of study, planned independent work, or otherwise connected to students’ background, identity, or family history. Any less-commonly taught language (LCTL) is eligible for this program, including Native and Indigenous Languages, provided that the language is not regularly taught at Princeton.
PUL's Cotsen Children's Library includes children’s illustrated books in a range of indigenous languages. The resources in Native American languages are accessible through this customized catalog search. A broader overview is available through the Book Title discovery page. Materials can be requested to explore in the Special Collections Reading Room in Firestone Library.
The University of Maryland offers the International Children's Digital Library for bilingual books.
| Indigenous languages of Americas | Cotsen title count |
|---|---|
| Mayan languages | 45 |
| Navajo | 16 |
| Central American Indian (Other) | 12 |
| Kalâtdlisut | 9 |
| Nahuatl | 8 |
| Creoles and Pidgins, French-based (Other) | 7 |
| Dakota | 7 |
| South American Indian (Other) | 7 |
| Ojibwa | 6 |
| North American Indian (Other) | 5 |
| Zapotec | 5 |
| Eskimo languages | 4 |
| Inuktitut | 3 |
| Mohawk | 2 |
| Quechua | 2 |
| Siouan (Other) | 2 |
| Slavey | 2 |
| Aleut | 1 |
| Algonquian (Other) | 1 |
| Apache languages | 1 |
| Choctaw | 1 |
| Inupiaq | 1 |
| Mapuche | 1 |
| Otomian languages | 1 |
| Tlingit | 1 |
| Tupi languages | 1 |
| Yupik languages | 1 |
Liaison for Indigenous Studies: Gabriel Swift
The librarians listed below can help you prepare for language learning, find relevant materials, and plan for overseas archival visits:
