U.S. Cities and States Add Native American Translations to Road Signs

The initiative aims to raise awareness about Native American communities and revive Indigenous languages, while sparking wider debates on land rights and representation.

Several U.S. cities and states are introducing Native American translations to road signs to raise awareness about Native American communities and revive Indigenous languages.
The initiative, which began with a proposal by Sage Brook Carbone, a citizen of the Northern Narragansett Indian Tribe, has been adopted in at least six states, including Iowa, New York, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
The signs not only highlight a tribe’s sovereignty but also open the door for wider debates on land rights, discrimination, and Indigenous representation in the political process.
In addition to road signs, some states have also included traditional names and artwork along highway overpasses, and dual language signs on university campuses.
While the initiative has been largely welcomed, there are concerns that it could be seen as a solution to deeper issues facing Indigenous communities, rather than a starting point for addressing these histories.

The Christian Science Monitor