CoLang 2026: June 22 to July 10, 2026

The Institute on Collaborative Language Research (CoLang)

The University of Nevada, Reno is excited to host the Institute on Collaborative Language Research (CoLang) in summer 2026. The institute provides a cutting-edge training program for new and established scholars, community language activists, and other language workers engaged in language documentation, revitalization, and reclamation. The institute consists of two components: two weeks of workshops on a diversity of relevant topics and a week of in-depth practica, in which participants apply their knowledge and skills to document and analyze understudied and threatened languages. We offer a model for other academic institutions seeking collaborative work with a variety of different communities.

view of the city of Reno looking towards the mountains

CoLang 2026 at the University of Nevada, Reno

Nevada is home to 20 federally recognized tribes, consisting of 28 reservations, bands, colonies and community councils. The University of Nevada, Reno is located in the northwestern part of the Great Basin at the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range with proximity to the world-renowned Lake Tahoe (dáʔaw, on Washoe homelands) and Pyramid Lake (Kooyooe’e Pa’a Panunadu, on Numu homelands). The primary campus sits on the traditional homelands of the Wasiw (Washoe) and Numu (Northern Paiute) peoples, with satellite locations throughout the State, including those that sit on the traditional homelands of the Newe (Western Shoshone) and Nuwu (Southern Paiute) peoples. Situated in such a rich natural and cultural context, we aim to engage with the region by incorporating field trips as well as invited speakers and performers from the area.

Our goal for 2026

Our theme for CoLang 2026 is “Strengthening Solidarity, Overcoming Obstacles, Forging our Future.” As such, our goal is to bring together different communities and language workers to learn and chart a path forward for collaboration and growth. We hope to reach beyond our state and be as broadly inclusive as possible, including communities not only from Nevada but also from nearby states, across the country, and around the world. Participants who complete CoLang continue a tradition of language reclamation efforts and meaningful, sustainable partnerships between universities and different language communities.

Components of CoLang

woman speaking in front of small audience

Workshops

The first two weeks of CoLang will consist of workshops on a diversity of relevant topics, as well as the steps plenary, sharing nights and model talks.

CoLang Workshops

Practica

The last week of CoLang will be a fieldwork practicum in collaborative language documentation and revitalization to apply the linguistic, ethical, practical and technical skills gained in the workshops.

CoLang Practica

Proud sponsors of CoLang

Thank you to our CoLang 2026 sponsors.

Local Organizing Committee

Co-Directors
Ignacio Montoya, Associate Professor of Linguistics, ignaciomontoya@unr.edu
Daphne Emm-Hooper, Director of Indigenous Relations, daphnehooper@unr.edu

Program Coordinator
Katherine Donalson, kdonelson@unr.edu