This incisive ethnographic analysis of indigenous language documentation, maintenance, and revitalization focuses on linguistic heritage issues on the Native American reservation at Fort Apache and explores the broader social, political and religious influences on changing language practices in indigenous communities. Offers a focused ethnographic analysis of an indigenous community that also explores global issues of language endangerment and maintenance and their socio-historical contexts Addresses the complexities and conflicts in language documentation and revitalization programs, and how they articulate with localized discourse genres, education practices, religious beliefs, and politics Examines differing evaluations of language loss, and maintenance, among members of affected communities, and their creative responses to challenges posed by encompassing socio-cultural regimes, including university accredited language experts Provides an ethnographic analysis of speech in indigenous communities that moves beyond narrowly conceived language documentation to consider changing linguistic and social identities

This incisive ethnographic analysis of indigenous language documentation, maintenance, and revitalization focuses on linguistic heritage issues on the Native American reservation at Fort Apache and explores the broader social, political and religious influences on changing language practices in indigenous communities.* Offers a focused ethnographic analysis of an indigenous community that also explores global issues of language endangerment and maintenance and their socio-historical contexts* Addresses the complexities and conflicts in language documentation and revitalization programs, and how they articulate with localized discourse genres, education practices, religious beliefs, and politics* Examines differing evaluations of language loss, and maintenance, among members of affected communities, and their creative responses to challenges posed by encompassing socio-cultural regimes, including university accredited language experts* Provides an ethnographic analysis of speech in indigenous communities that moves beyond narrowly conceived language documentation to consider changing linguistic and social identities

Acknowledgments viii1. Introduction 12. Indigenous Languages and the Mediation of Communities 123. Learning to Listen: Coming to Terms with Conflicting Meaningsof Language Loss 474. They Live in Lonesome Dove: English in Indigenous Places795. Stories in the Moment of Encounter: Documentation BoundaryWork 1136. What No Coyote Story Means: The Borderland Genre ofTraditional Storytelling 1527. "Some 'No No' and Some'Yes'": Silence, Agency, and Traditionalist Words1868. Sustainability: Possible Socialities of Documentation andMaintenance 215Appendix A: Lawrence Mithlo 229Appendix B: Eva Lupe on Her Early Life 237Index 250