Tag Archives: revitalization

Module 4 Post 2: FN Language Nests

Although an older document, the “First Nations Language Nests” offers a developmental psychology perspective to justify learning (Indigenous) languages at the preschool/early childhood age. This document discusses the program goals of incorporating “nests” of Indigenous immersion programs in schools across BC. The document also answers many questions families may have toward learning an additional language. The rationales put language education in Canada into perspective. My thoughts while reading this document questioned why French remains the sole official second language, and why Indigenous languages seemingly have no presence in most public schools.

M4P3: Danielle Black – Indigenous Film Maker

After reading Ginsburg’s Rethinking the Digital Age, I wanted to find more about Indigenous media local to my area.

Danielle Black grew up in Calgary, and is a member of the Siksika First Nations, a part of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Plains people, Treaty 7. She is an Indigenous artist who is using film to change perspectives and tell stories about Indigenous past but also about modern Indigenous people. She created a short film titled A Love Letter To My Unborn Child, “which speaks to her future child about the joys and trials that will await him/her as an Indigenous person navigating the world.”

I chose to include this in my research for my final because it displays resilience, strength, and hope in the face of adversity. This is a good piece of media to analyze with students, as it features Indigenous youth and offers a modern perspective on the struggles that Indigenous peoples face, and I think it shows many values of Indigenous knowledge and cultures. There is a lot to unpack in this 7 minute video, and I think it is worth unpacking and diving deep into the meanings.

Module 3 Post 4: Endangered Languages Project

The Endangered Languages Project is a global initiative maintained by the Catalogue of Endangered Languages (ELCat) project, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The website conatins a plethora of information and resources for endangered languages world wide. Their section for Canada contains 73 languages to explore. Introducing a website such as this in the middle years classroom would benefit students’ thinking around language and colonization. The maps included on the website may be used to spark inquiry projects around why certain languages are endangered.

Module 3 Post 3: Speak Gwich’in To Me Documentary

Jacey Firth-Hagen is the creator of the social media language revitalization awareness initiative “#SpeakGwichinToMe” which promoted the use and learning of the Gwichin language (the most endangered Athapaskan (Dene) language in the Northwest Territories). Her motivation stems from the empowerment she felt from learning more about her culture and language. Her movement led to the creation of the Speak Gwich’in To Me documentary, free to view. Jacey is one of many Indigenous activists working to support language preservation and revitalization in Canada. Her advocacy is admirable and educators can benefit from hearing what she has to say in terms of which languages and how languages are taught in our education system.

Module 2 Post 5: Hul’q’umi’num’ Language Project

The Hul’q’umi’num’ Language Project (reference below) is a case study completed by Hul’q’umi’num’ elders and teachers, the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, and Royal Roads University. The group led workshops with adult groups that combined story, music, and art that allowed for language learning. For Coast Salish communities, the act of storytelling is ingrained in the culture. Doing so maintains language. When combined with visuals, movement, and physical participation (immersion), language learning can be a fun and enriching experience for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This sharing of culture cross ethnicity has seldom been experienced for Indigenous cultures when compared to other minority groups in Canada. The resources that are planned to come out of this case study should be beneficial for educators trying to decolonize the system.

Reference:

Sadeghi-Yekta, K. (2019). Hul?q?umi?num? language heroes: A successful collaboration between elders, community organisations, and canadian west coast universities. Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance, 24(3), 368-375. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.1080/13569783.2019.1615829 

Module 2 Post 4: Guide to Indigenous Languages in Canada

This “Guide to Indigenous Languages in Canada” was compiled by Owona McIvor (associate professor of Indigenous Education at the University of Victoria). This guide is part of a larger language revitalization project put on by 9 Indigenous-led communities and the University of Victoria. The guide highlights key facts about Indigenous languages in Canada as well as 8 ways anyone can support the efforts to revitalize so many lost and dying Indigenous languages.

Module 2 Post 3: Voices on the Rise (Docuseries)

Voices on the Rise: Indigenous Language Revitalization in Alberta is a 3 part docuseries made in collaboration with Telus and Victoria filmmaker/visual artist Eli Hirtle ((nêhiyaw(Cree)/British/German). The series follows Eli and his journey of self-actualization by visiting his ancestors’ communities and learning more about his language. He focuses on the revitalization of Indigenous language and its intimate connection to culture, family, and life. Much can be learned from Eli’s story for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples alike.

Module 1, Post #4 – Revitalizing Indigenous Language Through Technology

Our planet is home to over 7000 languages currently spoken, yet this unique linguistic diversity—the defining characteristic of our species—is under extreme stress, as are the indigenous communities that speak these increasingly endangered languages.

Indigenous and other historically marginalized speech communities are leveraging new digital tools and technologies in inspiring ways to reclaim their languages and move historically oral traditions into online spaces.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is working on various collaborative projects that aim to utilize speech- and text-based technologies to assist the stabilization, revitalization and reclamation of Indigenous languages. I have included a screenshot of the different projects from the website: https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/programs/canadian-indigenous-languages-technology-project