The Wordspring Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Indigenous languages and the cultures connected to them. We develop translation technology, learning resources, and cultural programming for the people who use them every day: language speakers, learners, teachers, families, and the communities to whom these languages belong.
Decisions regarding a language and its associated cultural materials belong to the community to whom that language belongs. The Wordspring Initiative does not develop tools, publish content, or pursue partnerships involving a community's language or cultural materials without that community's involvement and direction.
Our tools and resources are designed for direct use by the people who depend on them. Translation in particular is intended to assist learners who may not have ready access to fluent speakers, classes, or other study materials, and to give teachers and families an additional resource for the work they are already doing in homes, classrooms, and community programs.
The Wordspring Translator is available on this website. The system is built on authentic language materials and is designed to deliver translations with attention to meaning, cultural context, and natural expression.
We are developing literary, artistic, and educational resources for use by learners, teachers, and the communities we work with. The specific projects in this area are being shaped in conversation with our partners.
Workshops, public events, and exhibitions are being planned in collaboration with Indigenous artists, storytellers, educators, and community organizations.
We are working toward extending our partnerships and resources to additional Indigenous language communities. This expansion proceeds as new relationships and collaborative work develop.
The Wordspring Initiative welcomes inquiries from anyone whose work or interests connect with ours. Please reach out if you are part of any of the groups below, or if you have something else in mind.