Summary and Prospects

Going Forward

Despite only having two native speakers of Ainu, the language's story is far from over. The community to support Ainu is only growing every day, but therer does need to be more support the a system point. There needs to be both an international and a national push by Japan and Russia to recognize Ainu as a dyeing language that does deserve support.

International Support

This is not to say the language is doomed. Ainu is receiving support from multiple fronts from other indigenous languages like the Maori's success in reviving their languages New Zealand.

Sekine, an educator in Ainu, told in an interview with the "Japan Times" that they draw inspiration from groups that were able to make Maori one of New Zealand's international languages. They told the interviewer, "since I first went to New Zealand, I've gained confidence as an Ainu." Sekine's statement is representative of what is possible when the global indigenous comunities work together. The international back up provides the space for growth the Ainu, and most other indigenous groups, do not receive from their own governments.

This is in contrast to the other Ainu dialects under Russian jurisdiction that are not given the same attention. Due to Russian archaic views on indigenous people the outlook for them is not good. The dialects of Ainu like Sakhalin will continue to lie dormant. But if the Hokkaido Ainu is any proof of potential, then by the start of their grassroots support by people like Alexei Nakamura, it is possible for a brighter future.

Summary

The Ainu language is one heavily tied to its indigenous people. There is more at stake for Ainu than just reviltalizing a dying language. For the Ainu, it is about saving their culture. By saving their culture, they hope to remove their colonized past and be apart of a heritage they are proud of.