Author Archives: sparksr

Module 4: Post 5: Cree Curriculum

This link will open a PDF document that is a resource produced by Cree elders, and educators and published by AlbertaEducation.ca for teaching Cree culture and language. This document is geared towards Cree people who are interested in revitalizing their language through language nests, immersion schools, or language centers.  This document provides a lot of background knowledge on how to implement a successful language program.  It provides activities, lessons and evaluations.  This is a useful document because the Provincial Government helped to cooperate with Cree elders and community members in the making of this resource.  It shows support for the language revitalization efforts and helps to create a guideline for success using a Cree approach.

http://education.alberta.ca/media/659383/creekto3gi.pdf

Module 4: Post 4: Learning Inuit

This is a website that offers online language education materials in different Inuit dialects.  It also offers lessons and translations from both English and French to the Inuit language.  There is an abundant amount of information and interactive lessons on learning vocabulary, grammar, dialogue and practice from beginner to intermediate levels of the language learner.  This allows Inuit peoples who are interested in learning their language to independently practice online for free. I think that an online language tool is not the only answer for helping language revitalization as the daily use of language with community and family is vital.  Also, many people may not have access to computers or fast speed internet to be able to access this information.  However, I think that by providing online educational resources in the Inuit languages is a step in the right direction in helping to support and maintain local Inuit languages.

http://www.tusaalanga.ca/splash

Module 4: Post 3: Yulakota

I came across a video that is a Bernstein Bears TV show spoken in Lakota language.  This stood out to me because as I was researching for my final research project I read an article about Lakota language revitalization.  In  the article it says, “ Lakota’s have a concept called yulakota, which means to make or transform a foreign idea into something compatible with Lakota culture” (Powers: 2009, p. 145).  This video link is a good example of taking a Western TV show, Bernstein Bears but translating it into Lakota language therefore portraying Lakota values which are embedded in the language and helping to create material and resources to support language revitalization which the article believes needs to be taught to the younger generation.  This is a useful site for Lakotas to use in language centres or at home to continue to encourage and promote the use of their local language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xCHht4X2Kc&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

 

Powers, W. (2009). Saving lakota: Commentary on language revitalization. American Indian Culture and Research Journal, 33 (4), p. 139 – 149.

Module 1: Post 2: Legends

This website provides Aboriginal legends in both English and Oji-Cree language, it is provided as an audio clip or written in text in both languages.  This is a useful site for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.  Legends can show and teach values which are embedded in the story.  It can also be used as a teaching resource if one is searching for Aboriginal created material in either language nests or in mainstream classrooms teaching about Aboriginal people.  It is also available in the Oji-Cree language for Aboriginal peoples who wish to listen to stories being told in their traditional language.  I read one legend that was about a young man with strong morals, despite his desire to do the right thing many challenges and obstacles came in his way, this is a story of how the creator showed him the way to overcome problems in his life.

http://legends.knet.on.ca/

Module 4: Post 1: Learning the Path

This website is geared towards inspiring and connecting Aboriginal peoples and communities in and around Edmonton, Alberta.  There are various links on the website such as healing the past, breaking down barriers, discovering gifts, connecting community and empowering yourself.  This website provides news events, information, video and audio clips of stories from Aboriginal people.  It provides a way for Aboriginal people to become involved in community, re-connect with their culture and find jobs and empowerment in the community.  This website was create by Aboriginal people who are trying to help create a path for more Aboriginal youth and people to follow to find success and happiness in life.  This website is also, however, not limited to Aboriginal peoples as they encourage non-Aboriginal people to also become involved and aware in their cultural events.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/features/learningthepinal ath/community/

Module 3: Post 5: Cree Literacy

I found this website linked from a previous post.  This website promotes Cree literacy,  it provides online resources as well as a blog that inspired the creator of http://apihtawikosisan.com/ to start her own blog.  The website has a blog that features songs, news or Indigenous issues to provide current and useful resources and information to its followers.  It also has links to reading, speaking and listening to the Cree language online.  It is useful for both adult and child language learning.  It also has a link to Cree radio broadcasting.

This website is dedicated to revitalizing language rather than just the preservation of language.  There is a lot of Cree media available, suggestions of how to integrate Cree back into families’ homes and a place for Cree people to connect.   This online community is able to express their concerns and advocates for more Indigenous Language Rights through integrating Cree language in education and creating multi-lingual traffic signs in local communities.

http://creeliteracy.org/ 

Module 3: Post 4: Tansi TV

Tansi means hello in the Cree language.  This website is an interactive online educational resource for teaching children the Cree language.  The website has a TV program connecting the adventures of the main characters with Cree culture and learning words.  It also has sing along videos and dancing.  There are also modules that teach basic Cree words and continues to build upon the vocabulary.  There are also resources for educational extension activities.

I think this website will help young children become interested in learning the Cree language.  Media is often broadcasted in dominant languages.  In having media programs in Indigenous languages young children are not only exposed to the language but learn the Indigenous values

http://www.tansi.tv/

Module 3: Post 3: Language Revitalization, Auckland University

This website belongs to the International Centre of Language Revitalization of the Auckland Technological University, New Zealand.  The Maori, Indigenous people of New Zealand have been successfully revitalizing their language for decades.  This University center does not only concentrate on minority languages in New Zealand but is helping to create ways to save minority languages around the world.  Their goals are to create online learning programs for Indigenous languages around the world, use technology to archive and document traditional aspects of endangered languages, use technology as a resource for communities to access information and promote programs for linguistic researchers to work with minority communities around the world.

This website seems to be hopeful in revitalizing as many languages globally as possible through creating online communities and providing resources online. However, I wonder if there are Indigenous communities who resist “saving” their cultural knowledge online.  Some cultures may be opposed to sharing their sacred traditional with outside researchers.  I think it is a good initiative to save and record endangered languages.  However, I also question how successful they are at revitalizing languages than simply preserving languages in an online “museum.”  I think for language revitalization to occur it needs to be used and applied in everyday situations.  This is the difficulty many minority language speakers are facing as the young generations are encouraged to use a dominant language for a more secure future therefore losing their traditional tongue.

http://languagerevive.org/about-us/goals

Module 3: Post 2: Language Nest

Apihtaikosisan is a website created by a Metis woman who comes from a Plains Cree speaking community but is currently located in an urban setting.  She is a qualified teacher and has experiences teaching in Native communities in the North West Territories.  Her passion is language revitalization.  In her website, she has a blog, a hall of shame which shows images that currently misrepresent Indigenous peoples, and shares educational resources and Indigenous art.  She has started her own language nest.  A language nest is usually a school or pre-school where children are immersed in their Indigenous language and learn traditional crafts.  In creating her school, she followed 5 rules : “Rule 1: Never ask permission, never beg to save the language. Go ahead and get started, don’t wait even five minutes. Don’t wait for a grant. Rule 2: Don’t debate the issues. Rule 3: Be very action-oriented: just act. Rule 4: Show, don’t tell. Don’t talk about what you will do. Do it and show it.”

It is inspiring reading about a woman who is very passionate about saving her culture and language.  Through the Internet, I think it is easier for Indigenous leaders and followers to connect and make a change in revitalizing and evolving their culture.

http://apihtawikosisan.com/

Module 3: Post 1: Inuktitut Language Decline

This website is an article written by the Toronto Star regarding Nunavut’s hopes to preserve language and culture.  Inuktitut, the Inuit language is the most widely spoken Aboriginal language spoken in Canada.  It is protected by the Official Language Act, allowing it to be taught in the schools. However, despite this title according to Statistics Canada Inuktitut language is in decline.  There are less people who speak Inuktitut as a mother tongue and less people who can speak Inuktitut in a conversation from just two years ago.

After the watching the video, A Step Forward, students express their feelings and worries about language loss.  These are some common themes in regards to language decline in the article and from the interviews:

– Inuktitut is not taught after primary grades.

-It is not commonly spoken between friends.

-There are not many teachers available who can speak Inuktitut fluently.

-Many students can understand grandparents speak but feel too shy to respond back in speaking.

In order to preserve this language and culture, there are many changes that need to happen so that young students continue speaking Inuktitut until adulthood in everyday conversations.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/09/02/nunavuts_battle_to_preserve_inuit_languages.html