Indigenous nations ask churches to help preserve languages, cultures

Published: 2006-02-16

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (CNS) -- In a statement to the Ninth General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, representatives of indigenous nations from five continents asked for help to stop the erosion of their cultures and languages. "Our languages are the key to our understanding of our world and our place in it. They are the vehicle for transmitting our original values and cultures to future generations. However, our languages are quickly disappearing, and soon we, too, may be assimilated, unless the current course is dramatically changed," said the statement, which blamed Western culture for the erosion of indigenous cultures. "The churches have historically played a role in the suppression of indigenous languages," said the statement. "It is time for the churches now to put an equivalent amount of effort into the reclaiming, preserving and enhancing of our languages." About 40 representatives of indigenous nations in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Oceania gathered in Porto Alegre Feb. 12-13; the WCC Assembly was meeting Feb. 14-23.

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