The United Nations General Assembly’s declaration of the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032) draws attention to the critical situation of indigenous languages and communities in the face of continuing endangerment and displacement due to conflicts of varying origins, economic and political instabilities, and the more serious danger posed by unmitigated climate risks that will have dire consequences in the long term. 

This year’s International Mother Language Day celebration revisits the tenets of multilingualism as a necessity to transform education at all levels amidst an alarming decline in literacy and the growing dependency of people on technology, potentially impacting learning, research and scholarship and the entire education establishment. State policies on education traditionally have long gestation periods and by the time parliaments started debating on the more sustainable pathways for reform, the most fundamental components other than financing are left out. What takes precedence are demands for populist curricula that is founded on faulty bilingualism which eschews progressive education and lifelong learning.

This conference brings together researchers, practitioners, educators, activists, policy makers, and community members to share and reflect on the fundamental issues in language, literacy, and lifelong learning and how these are being dealt with in the industry, academia, and the legislature. 

The conference aims to provide a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, challenges, and opportunities in indigenous languages and mother tongues research, and a space for collaboration and partnerships among different stakeholders. The conference will accept proposals on broad themes such as the status, issues, and challenges of indigenous languages and multilingual policy implementation; indigenous languages in education, culture, science, communication, and development; technology and innovation in preserving, revitalizing, and promoting indigenous languages L1-based MLE; emerging policies, frameworks, and strategies in indigenous languages and multilingual education; impact of digital technologies and social media on indigenous languages and L1-based MLE; and ethical dimensions and human rights implications of indigenous languages and mother tongues. 

The Conference aims to:

• Raise and deepen awareness of participants on the goals and objectives of International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032 (IDIL 2022-2032);
• Rxchange information on the current state of the indigenous languages and the extent of their use in education and official functions;
• Start the planning process for the IDIL national-level response in alignment to the Global Action Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Promote cooperation, forge linkages, and form an interim steering committee that will oversee the implementation of the national-level strategic plan; and
• Update educators and researchers on new developments, directions, as well as emerging issues in indigenous people’s education (IPED).