Indigenous Language Planning and Implementation

Candace Kaleimamoowahinekapu Galla (Kanaka Hawaiʻi & Filipino) serves as Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, holding joint appointments in the Department of Language and Literacy Education and the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies. Her groundbreaking work focuses on Indigenous language revitalization through digital technology and cultural practices, with particular emphasis on Hawaiian language education. Her academic journey includes roles as Program Coordinator at the American Indian Language Development Institute and faculty at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language. At UBC, she teaches a diverse range of courses including Materials Development for Indigenous Language Learning, Technologies for Endangered Language Documentation, and Indigenous Language and Culture Education. Her research spans Indigenous language revitalization, digital technology integration, and decolonizing methodologies, with significant contributions through publications, presentations, and community engagement. Through projects like "Building Indigenous Language Teacher Proficiency" and "Living Our Indigenous Languages in a Multimedia Technology Enhanced World," she continues to create innovative pathways for Indigenous language preservation while maintaining her commitment to decolonizing academic spaces and fostering Indigenous scholarship.

Shannon Bischoff serves as Chair of Communication Sciences & Disorders and Professor at Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he directs the Three Rivers Language Center and the Teaching English as a New Language Program. His interdisciplinary expertise spans computational linguistics, language documentation, and linguistic anthropology, supported by his PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics from the University of Arizona. His two-decade career includes significant work with Indigenous communities across the Americas and non-dominant language communities in Southeast Asia, particularly focusing on language preservation and rights. His research has garnered over $2 million in funding, including seven National Science Foundation grants and recognition from UNESCO for his contributions to Indigenous language preservation. His team won the 2018 Ken Hale Prize for their work with the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Language Programs, and his publications have been cited in major linguistic handbooks and encyclopedias. Through the Three Rivers Language Center, he continues to advocate for linguistic rights and support refugee, immigrant, and Indigenous language communities while maintaining partnerships with organizations like UNESCO for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages initiatives.