The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2019 as the Year of Indigenous Languages. On October 25, the International Institute at the University of Michigan presented a joint conference on the resilience and revitalization of indigenous languages, titled Indigenous Languages: From Endangerment to Revitalization and Resilience.

Linguistics Professor Sally Thomason delivered both opening and closing remarks, and Professor Jeff Heath participated in one of the panel discussions. Colleen M. Fitzgerald of the University of Texas, Arlington, gave a talk on the importance of supporting language revitalization.

Policy recommendations resulting from the conference will be reported to the United Nations Permanent Forum. This conference will serve to strengthen ties between the University of Michigan and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). This event is funded in part by Title VI NRC grants from the U.S. Department of Education.