Advocates in B.C. say much more needs to be done to invigorate Indigenous languages in a province that is largely English speaking.
There are currently 34 Indigenous languages in B.C. and all of them are critically endangered.The First Peoples' Cultural Council thinks it would help to have all of them recognized as official languages."It is a very useful strategy to raise the profile and create awareness of the original languages of these lands," said Aliana Parker, the language programs manager at FPCC.
Ian Campeau, an Anishinaabe activist and former member of the musical group A Tribe Called Red, said he experienced shame for not speaking his ancestral language. Now he carries around books written in Ojibway to help him learn.
“What have you heard from students, in terms of their interest in having these programs in post-secondary institutions?
Jamieson: Students want these courses. What we're finding is there's not funding or resources to implement them. We're also seeing a really stark academizing of the language. So while the resources could be implemented on campuses, we're having trouble finding people to teach them even though we do have fluent speakers.
[Universities] are constantly seeking these credentials that are coming from these institutions that our folks don't even have access to … so the problem isn't even implementing these courses and having the resources, it's how we're structuring who is teaching them and who we're valuing the knowledge from. We're basically showing contempt for Indigenous knowledge keeping and we're only focusing on the post-secondary side.”
The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations are investing nearly $1 million in an effort to preserve the Southern Tutchone language. 10 students were chosen to attend an immersion program that started this fall.
“The hope is they will become teachers, going down the road. We will rely on these individuals to help us in revitalizing our language — not only from a First Nations program standpoint, we are hoping that there is going to be a transfer of this language into their homes as well."
Les langues du pays sont à l'avant-plan ces jours-ci, à Whitehorse, pendant la 23e Conférence ministérielle sur la francophonie canadienne et une consultation de la communauté francophone quant à l' avenir de la Loi sur les langues officielles . Il s'y déroule également des rencontres pour l'élaboration d'une loi fédérale pour la protection des langues autochtones .
“French: a model or a threat for indigenous language revitalization?”
Le linguiste André Bourcier affirme qu'un cadre législatif est essentiel pour la protection des langues autochtones, mais que, contrairement au français, qui profite d'un grand nombre de locuteurs au pays, il n'est pas question pour l'instant d'offrir des services gouvernementaux dans ces langues. Il faut d'abord, selon lui, augmenter le nombre de locuteurs.
André Bourcier se dit enthousiasmé par le projet d'immersion pour adultes de la Première Nation Champagne Aishihik, mais rappelle que ce genre de programme a besoin de ressources à long terme pour offrir des services à un nombre grandissant de locuteurs.
quick english paraphrase of the above:
actual legistlation is essential in order to protect indigenous languages, much like what’s been done for french in canada. the difference is that french has a lot of speakers, whereas many indigenous languages have few. so for the moment, the linguist they’re quoting, andre bourcier, says the focus should be less on offering services in the languages and more on building up the number of people who speak the languages at all.
«On a la même responsabilité envers les langues autochtones qu’on a envers le français et l’anglais au Canada. La source du droit à l’apprentissage de ces langues-là est le même pour les langues autochtones que pour le français ou l’anglais. La question, c’est de faire une loi qui va être efficace dans la situation actuelle de ces langues-là.» -André Bourcier
really glad he addressed this!
“we have the same responsibility to indigenous languages that we have to french and english in canada. ...the question, is to make a law that will be effective for the current situation of these languages.” (pls forgive the poor translation, this is the gist of it though)
Il rappelle par ailleurs que le désir d'apprendre une langue autochtone vient d'une « utilité viscérale et définitoire, mais n'a pas une valeur marchande. On ne peut pas trouver un emploi ou faire des études supérieures. C'est un choix personnel d’investir temps et argent pour apprendre la langue ».
je peux pas bien traduire cte partie-ci, mais j’aime beaucoup la partie du texte en bold. basically, people aren’t opting to learn indigenous languages as a marketable skill, it’s far more personal and visceral.
Wemindji's language coordinator says that for years, she felt as if she was 'fighting a monster alone.' But that's changed in recent months, with a resurgence in interest in preserving and promoting the Cree language.
