The Rights of Indigenous Deaf People to Language, Education, and Culture in the United States

Individuals who are Indigenous and Deaf have a unique experience walking in multiple cultural and linguistic worlds. This requires a formal recognition of their rights that support their way of being, doing, and knowing. Indigenous Deaf people have rights to language acquisition, Indigenous cultural engagement, educational attainment, and community involvement. Communication is the essential foundation for the lives of Indigenous Deaf people, as it is necessary for realizing all of their rights. This includes the right to acquire language and culture; the right to have an interpreter at Indigenous community events, services, and ceremonies; the right to be made aware of intervention services that are available; the right to be educated to their full capability; and the right to communicate and participate in society. This article offers a critical review of interdisciplinary scholarship on Indigenous Deaf experiences and advances a policy-oriented framework to guide Tribal, federal, state, and local governments in improving services and the inclusion of Indigenous Deaf community members.