Although a longer resource, this thesis written by Kirsten Baker-Williams provides an invaluable account of members of Squamish nation and their reflection on language revitalization. I chose this resource because I work in West Vancouver and live in Vancouver of which is unceded and ancestral territory of the Coast Salish Nations, specifically in my area of West Vancouver, the Squamish Nation. I thought it was really important to take the time to find a resource that is local and place based. We have learnt through our study of globalization that there is a need to take a contextual approach to our understanding of Indigenous communities, ways of being and experiences. Although there are larger general trends of colonizations the impacts and identities of each community have their own unique experience and self-determination. Further, the Baker family has been a connection between our school district and the Squamish nation and I am always honoured to hear or read their stories. As this is a large resource, I specifically focused on the interviews of members of the Squamish nation.
The thesis explores issues of colonization and assimilation but also explores the “desire to keep Squamish as a living language”. This also had a certain impact on me as I connected it to one of my earlier webblogs, the Language Maps, that identified there were only a few remaining fluent Squamish speakers although there are hundreds that are learning the language.
Right away, the thesis begins by exploring names, name ceremonies and the connections to identity. This emphasis also helped me pick later resources in my Webblogs.
Baker-Williams, K. (2006). Na mi k’anatsut ta Sk̲wx̲wu7mesh snichim chet : Squamish language revitalization : from the hearts and the minds of the language speakers (T). University of British Columbia.