[3] The IPOLA was founded under the idea that language is important to the preservation of culture, and they have worked alongside various indigenous groups across North America.
The IPOLA's first mission after being founded was to create a collection of bilingual children's books for the Hotevilla-Bacavi Community School of the Hopi in Hotevilla, Arizona.
[3][4] Since this initial collaboration, the IPOLA/ILI has worked with indigenous groups across North America and continues in their goal of preserving language traditions.
The ILI focuses on four different subjects regarding indigenous language, those being perpetuation, sharing of information, public education, and preservation for future generations.
[5] From 1999 to 2001, members of the ILI conducted the Field Research Project, which saw them travelling to over 50 different indigenous groups and working alongside them to preserve their language and help teach future generations about their culture.