This report summarizes two joint sessions held by the Indian Nations At Risk Task Force and the National Advisory Council on Indian Education to hear testimony on educational issues related to Native American language and culture. Educators, students, parents, and tribal officials made presentations concerning: the importance for academic success of retaining one's Native or historic language base; the suppression of Native language experienced by older tribal members who attended boarding schools; philosophical problems and personal experience in bilingual education; efforts to preserve the culture and language of small tribes; the need to train non-Native teachers of Indian students about Native culture and language; and three programs and strategies that work. The federal Native American Languages Act, which supports the use and preservation of Native languages, is briefly summarized. State and local initiatives related to bilingual education in Wisconsin, New Mexico, Alaska, and Washington are described. Recommendations are made concerning: standards, definitions, and planning for teaching Native languages; higher education and alternative certification for teachers of Native languages; the importance of studying tribal history; and the special challenge of providing cultural education for urban American Indians. (SV)