Alliance of Early Childhood Professionals (AECP)

Native languages are on the decline and no one in Minnesota needs to hear another heartbreaking statistic to understand what is at stake. The loss of these languages is a significant loss to Native American culture. In an attempt to retain as much of these declining cultures as possible the Alliance of Early Childhood Professionals was created. AECP is a Native American organization focused on individuals working in the early childcare profession. From Preschool teachers to nannies it is important for everyone in Minnesota to be more culturally sensitive to the special needs of indigenous language speaking children. Since 1979 AECP has been working with over 15,000 childcare providers and the 25,000 staff who support them on projects with particular emphasis on Dakota Ojibwe revitalization and Wicoie Nandagikendan Urban immersion preschools. With a grant of $10,000 from Fund of the Sacred Circle AECP has been able to expand the work of its Dakota Ojibwe Language Revitalization Commission to identify and secure resources and implement a legislative strategy to ensure that Dakota and Ojibwe youth have a living vital language.