WriteReader

WriteReader

WriteReader

Preserving and Promoting Indigenous Languages Through Storytelling

Copenhagen, Denmark, Chigaco, Illinois

DNK

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Indigenous languages worldwide are at risk of disappearing, with UNESCO estimating that one language dies every two weeks. In the U.S., only 20% of Native American language speakers are under 18, highlighting the urgent need for revitalization. In Native American communities like those served by St. Labre Indian School, the decline of Northern Cheyenne and Crow languages threatens cultural identity and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Many students lack access to engaging, culturally relevant literacy tools that support bilingual education. Traditional curricula often fail to integrate Native languages, contributing to low engagement and language erosion. WriteReader addresses this challenge by providing an interactive book-creation platform that empowers students to write and share stories in their native languages. We create an immersive learning experience that enhances literacy while preserving linguistic heritage for k-12 students. We are already working with Indigenous populations in Montana, North Dakota, Norway (Sami People) and Greenland. Our solution can be scaled to other communities facing language loss, ensuring that future generations can read, write, and communicate in their native languages.

Our solution is WriteReader, an interactive book-creation platform designed to help children (K-12) learn to read and write by creating their own books. It allows students to type stories, add images, and incorporate their native languages alongside standard literacy instruction. Here’s how it works: Students create books by typing text, adding their voice and adding images, making storytelling engaging and personal. Bilingual support enables learners to write in both their native language and English, reinforcing cultural identity and literacy. Educators provide feedback through an educator text field that models correct spelling and grammar. Books can be shared digitally or printed, encouraging students to take pride in their work and become authors. WriteReader is a web-based platform that works on computers, tablets, and smartphones. It is user-friendly, requiring no advanced technical skills, making it accessible for students, teachers, and communities. By integrating linguistic and visual learning, WriteReader fosters confidence, creativity, and language preservation in a way that traditional learning tools do not.

Our solution serves Indigenous students, educators, and communities, particularly those working to preserve endangered Native American languages. We are currently partnering with St. Labre Indian School, which supports students from the Northern Cheyenne and Crow tribes, but our solution is scalable to Indigenous communities globally. https://www.writereader.com/blog/writereader-partners-with-st-labre-indian-school-to-preserve-native-american-languages/ These students often lack accessible, culturally relevant literacy tools that support bilingual education. Traditional curricula focus on English, leading to declining fluency in Native languages. Without engaging learning resources, young learners struggle to retain and use their ancestral languages, contributing to cultural loss. WriteReader empowers students by allowing them to create and share books in their native language, strengthening both literacy and cultural identity. Educators can use the platform to integrate Indigenous languages into daily learning, making language preservation an active part of education. By using WriteReader, students gain confidence in self-expression, improve literacy skills, and reconnect with their heritage. In the long term, our solution helps sustain linguistic and cultural diversity, ensuring that Indigenous languages are passed down to future generations. Through technology-driven storytelling, we are giving young learners a voice—one that honors their history while preparing them for the future.