newsfirst peoples’ spring /summer 2011 first peoples’ heritage, language & culture council

in this issue 3 Heritage Toolkit Helps Fulfill First Peoples’ Council Embrace Technology to Mandate Support Language Learning 4 China and B.C. First Nations Partner to Save Indigenous The wisdom, words and phrases of two through the SENC´OT¯EN archive to find Languages in Both Countries B.C. First Nations languages can now be the word—SEPLIL—as well as hear heard using an iPhone and iPod touch. how it’s pronounced and see a picture. 5 Conversation with a Language Developed as a mobile extension of lan- You can also take your own picture Champion: Mandy Na’zinek guage collections archived by First Nations and include that as the image in your Jimmie communities at FirstVoices.com, the personal dictionary.” first two prototype apps feature the For Thelma Wenman, coordinator 6 Young First Nations SENC´OT¯EN language of Southern Vancou- of the Sto:lo Shxweli Halq’eméylem Filmmakers Celebrate B.C.’s ver Island and the Halq’eméylem language Program, the appeal of FirstVoices Mobile Indigenous Languages of the Sto:lo Nation in the Fraser Valley. is its convenience and accessibility for Funding from the New Relationship language students. 8 Former AADA Recipient Gives Trust will give a further nine First Nations “Our language is taught at board- Back by Mentoring a Young Artist languages the opportunity to build their own operated schools, head-start programs, mobile dictionary. The new languages to be public schools and local universities,” 9 New Master-Apprentice Team included are Lil’wat, Sliammon, Tsilhqot’in, she says. “The app makes it easier for Embraces Opportunity to Learn Ehattesaht Nuchatlaht, Dakelh/Southern Continued next page… the Nisga’a Language Carrier, Nisga’a, Northern St´át´imcets, Ktunaxa and Kwak’wala. 10 Bringing Our Languages FirstVoices Mobile provides First Na- Back from the Brink tions dictionaries and phrase collections with audio recordings, images and videos that users can customize to make each en- try their own. It also includes specially de- veloped touch-screen keyboards that use the unique characters of a First Nations language, as well an English keyboard. The apps allow users to customize their dictionaries. “Let’s say you want to look up the SENC´OT¯EN word for bread,” says Peter Brand, FirstVoices coordinator. “You can search for it in English or scroll

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 1 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

Continued from previous page… congratulations to the language champions behind the northern st´át´imcets John Elliott (STOLC/ E¯I_) talks to a group about FirstVoices. firstvoices archive! students to continue on with their stud- people and people away from the com- Their archive has reached the pro- ies. They can download it and study the munity,” says STOLC/ EI_. “There are not ¯ lific benchmark of 5,000 words and language wherever they are.” enough Elders to go around so it’s 2,000 phrases and is now the largest Fostering young language learners is important that everyone has access to on FirstVoices. The community will vital when you consider that each year, their voices.” be receiving an iPod Touch from the fluent Elders pass away. FirstVoices Mobile was developed by First Peoples’ Council to acknowledge “When Elders die, there goes our lan- the First Peoples’ Council with funding their efforts. To visit the Northern guage as well,” says Thelma. from the First Peoples’ Cultural Founda- St´át´imcets archive and other First Na- John Elliott (STOLC/ EI_) is a SENC´OTEN tion. The Foundation provides funding ¯ ¯ tions language archives, go to www. language teacher at the L_ÁU,WELN_EW_ to B.C. First Nations communities in the firstvoices.com. Tribal School and another strong advocate areas of language, arts and culture. for the use of technology in language learn- From the Northern St´át´imcets ing. His late father, Dave Elliott was the Download the apps for free from the archive: Áma nscwákekwmíntsina. creator of the SENC´OTEN orthography and iTunes store: ¯ Congratulations! I’m glad for you! the first SENC´OT¯EN dictionary. STOLC/ EI¯_ ´ continued his father’s language revitaliza- SENCOT¯EN: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/ tion legacy, creating FirstVoices.com along app/id398943185?mt=8 with Peter Brand; he was also instrumental Halq’eméylem : http://itunes.apple.com/ca/ in the creation of the SENC´OT¯EN app. app/halqemeylem/id398945845?mt=8 “This is especially important for young

2

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 2 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

Heritage Toolkit Helps FULFILL FIRST PEOPLES’ COUNCIL MANDATE

Meet Carla Jack, a member of the says Carla. “For First Nations, the tan- prevent a huge amount of waste from Penelakut Tribe and a linguistics ma- gible and intangible are almost always ending up in landfills, and can protect our jor from the University of Victoria who connected—for example, the best fish- green spaces by reducing the need for new worked as an intern at the First Peoples’ ing spot is tangible, but knowing where buildings.” Council through the Aboriginal Youth it is and the protocols to follow to fish Internship Program. As part of her intern- there are intangible.” The Heritage Toolkit also includes a glossary ship, Carla developed resources to help of heritage terms and a database of heritage fulfill the heritage portion of the Council’s Heritage and sustainability contacts, publications and funding programs. mandate. “As the architect, Carl Elefante said, ‘the “Heritage is important to First Nations greenest building is the one already The Heritage Toolkit can be found on the First culture because it encompasses the deep built’,” says Carla. “Through the reuse Peoples’ Council website – connection to the land, the stories from and rehabilitation of buildings, we can www.fphlcc.ca/arts/heritage-toolkit the ancestors, the traditional way of life, the turbulent times and the requirements of modern life,” says Carla. “Through heritage planning and the recognition and documentation of historic places, First Nations can better protect their sites from unwanted development or destruction.” Carla researched existing heritage resources and surveyed First Nations communities, tribal councils and cultural centres to assess their heritage conserva- tion needs.

The end result was the Heritage Toolkit, which consists of facts sheets about:

How the values of community play a role in heritage conservation “Value-centred management is the con- servation of a historic place based on the values ascribed to it by the commu- nity,” says Carla. “For conservation to be successful, the place must retain its significance and continue to be a useful part of the community.” “Practicing heritage conservation revitalizes our communities and Tangible versus intangible heritage “Tangible heritage refers to physical sites strengthens our sense of identity such as trails, buildings and landscapes, while intangible heritage is knowledge, through honouring our past.” practices and skills such as language, art techniques and harvesting methods,” — Carla Jack

3

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 3 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

China and B.C. First Nations Partner to Save Indigenous Languages in Both Countries

China, much like , is a linguistically meetings how important it is to make and language immersion program models diverse country with many distinct minor- policy recommendations to governments and successes. ity languages at the brink of extinction. to enact change.” They also met with representatives of To help protect one of the most endan- The Qiang, known as “the people of the the provincial and federal governments, gered languages in China—Qiang—the clouds” live in the mountains of the Sich- academics, First Nations-run organiza- First Peoples’ Council recently hosted a uan province in southwestern China and tions, First Nations communities, First delegation of academics, government trace their history back 3,000 years. They Nations leadership, cultural centres and officials, Qiang language experts and were one of the most severely affected schools. They were hosted at Chief Atahm Qiang speakers as part of a unique study groups during the Wenchuan earthquake School, the En’owkin Centre and Spirit tour of British Columbia. The goal of the of May 2008 and lost approximately 10% Ridge. tour, which was funded by the Canadian of their population. “There are so many parallels between International Development Agency, was The earthquake and the subsequent our two countries,” says Tracey. “Sharing to provide information and best practices evacuation of community members models and best practices can only serve on revitalizing First Nations languages further fragmented an already endangered to strengthen indigenous language revital- in B.C. that can be used to make policy language and culture. Over 80% of Qiang ization activities in both countries.” recommendations to help the Qiang people do not speak the Qiang language The project was lead by Geospatial/ language. and it is not used in local government, Salasan Consulting Inc. and funded by the “While the Chinese delegation came to media or schools. Canadian International Development B.C. to learn from us, it was impossible The Chinese/Qiang delegation was wel- Agency (CIDA) and the Government of to not also learn from them,” says Tracey comed to the First Peoples’ Council office China. Herbert, Executive Director at the First in the Tsartlip Nation in Brentwood Bay by Peoples’ Council. “We usually focus on Elders John Elliott, and May and Skip Sam delivering excellent programs and don’t before sitting in on presentations on the focus on policy, but I learned through our use of technology to document languages

Qiang language delegation dons Cowichan hats for photo with First Peoples’ staff. “While the Chinese delegation came to B.C. to learn from us, it was impossible to not also learn from them.” —Tracey Herbert, Executive Director, First Peoples' Council

4

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 4 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

Conversation with a Language Champion MANDY NA'ZINEK JIMMIE

Mandy Jimmie (RIGHT) accepting her “First Na- minister of canadian tions Language Champion” award from Tracey Her- bert (LEFT) Executive Director of the First Peoples’ heritage announces Council. increased funding for b.c. language projects exposed to some of the early linguistic In December, we attended an work of Laurence C. Thompson and other event at the Museum of linguists, but I quickly realized I could Anthropology where the not make heads or tails of it. It was this Minister of Canadian Heritage “obstacle” that drove me to pursue my and OfficialL anguages, the lifelong work [in language revitalization], Honourable James Moore, which I am still passionate about. announced a three-year renewal of the Aboriginal Languages Q. What is the best way to learn to speak a Initiative (ALI), a new funding Mandy Na’zinek Jimmie is a Nłe?'kepmxcín First Nations language? formula for First Nations lan- speaker who has been working on lan- A. Learning the language as a child is still guage funding and an increase guage revitalization for over 20 years. the best way—we need to immerse kids in funding for B.C. language Mandy received her MA in linguistics from more in our infancy/daycare/headstart projects—from $232,470 to the University of British Columbia in 1994. programs. Otherwise, I have found adults $834,400 per year. The Minister She is a language instructor at the Nicola who make language learning a priority of Aboriginal Relations and Rec- Valley Institute of Technology and a com- and fully commit themselves to learning onciliation, the Honourable Barry munity language champion. the language do very well, which is very Penner was also in attendance hopeful. and we presented both minis- Q. How did you learn your language and get ters with iPod Touches with the involved in language revitalization? Q. Do you see more interest in learning SENC´OTEN and Halq’eméylem A. As a child, I learned my language First Nations language than in the past? FirstVoices apps on them. primarily from my mother whose first lan- A. Definitely. I see more interest and more guage was Nłe?'kepmxcín and the Elders commitment. Students today do not have around me. Later, I studied linguistics the negative experience of residential to better understand our language since schools and other experiences to hinder

there were no language courses offered their language learning. then. While completing my Master’s degree in linguistics, I was totally ”book Q. What can be done to ensure that First immersed” in the language and that Nations languages will survive? helped me a lot. Since returning to my A. Communities need to make language a from left to right: Pauline home community in the early ’90s, I have priority. Some communities have es- Terbasket, Chair of the First Peoples’ primarily taught adults, which has enabled tablished policies for their councils and Cultural Foundation; the Honourable me to continue to learn the language. Of staff to learn the language; others have Barry Penner, Minister of Aboriginal course, my mother continued to speak to successful immersion programs. Also, Relations and Reconciliation; the me in the language until her passing 10 communities need to make our languages Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage; Dr. Lorna years ago. living, functional languages. It is so easy Williams, Chair of the First Peoples’ In my early adulthood I realized how to fall back on English when we don’t Council; and Tracey Herbert, Executive important language was for our identity. have a way to express it in our language, Director of the First Peoples’ Council. It was at that time that I began the early but fluent speakers can easily relay what (Photo courtesy of the Department of stages of learning the written component needs to be said in our languages. Canadian Heritage) of our language. In the late ’70s, I was

5

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 5 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

Young First Nations Filmmakers CELEBRATE B.C.’S INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES The First Peoples’ Council recently to save the Ktunaxa language, Airplane, partnered with Knowledge to develop a look at the use of Heiltsuk for the in- Our First Voices, a series of short films flight safety message for flights into Bella about 13 of the First Nations languages Bella, and Spelling Bee, which follows of B.C. The films can be found online and a young First Nations girl competing between programs on Knowledge. in a spelling bee with Nłe?'kepmxcín, We caught up with the four First St´át´imcets and Nisga’a words. Nations filmmakers who directed Our “I thought long and hard about what First Voices to talk to them about which of I wanted people to come away with the films they connected with the most. when watching these films,” says Zoe. “I wanted to impart that language is cul- ZOE LEIGH HOPKINS ture—that if we lose our languages, we “I really enjoyed Spelling Bee,” says Zoe lose unique ways of thinking and unique Leigh Hopkins. “It was fun imagining ways of being in the world.” a world where all of our First Nations lan- Zoe is Heiltsuk from Bella Bella and guages would be on par with English and Mohawk from Six Nations. Her films in- French and imagining that none of them clude Prayer for a Good Day and One-Eyed had been lost or damaged. It was inter- Dogs Are Free, which was nominated for esting to think about where we would be Best Live Short at the American Indian today if our languages and our cultures Film Festival and was a semi-finalist for clockwise from top left: Helen Haig-Brown, had been upheld. It would be a whole the B.C. Film Signature Shorts Competi- Kelvin Redvers, Lisa Jackson, Zoe Leigh Hopkins, different world.” tion in 2006. still images from Airplane and City Speaks. For Our First Voices, Zoe directed Ktunaxa, about the use of technology LISA JACKSON “One of the more touching stories for me was Earl Smith’s,” says Lisa Jackson. Lisa directed four Our First Voices films: City Speaks, a walking tour of in the Skwxwú7mesh sníchim language, ¯ ¯ Typewriter, about the creation of the SENC´OT¯EN writing system, Songbringer, the story of a Haida man who dreams about the X_aad Kil language, and Earl Smith, a look at Nuucˇaanul 'language revitalization effort in Zeballos. “You can see that it’s a real grassroots community effort that people are devot- ing themselves to because they care so much about Nuucˇaanul,”' Lisa says. “There’s so much joy when the Elders get together to speak the language. It’s really inspiring to see them reconnecting with it and passing it on to younger people.”

6

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 6 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

Lisa is an Anishinaabe filmmaker whose KELVIN REDVERS Our First Voices was produced by Sharon films include Suckerfish,an examination “I think Lullaby was my favourite to film,” Bliss, Catrina Longmuir and Marilyn Thomas of her relationship with her mother and says Kelvin Redvers, a Métis filmmaker of Bliss Pictures. her own identity, and Reservation Soldiers, and recent graduate from the Simon The films created for the Our First Voices a documentary about First Nations youth Fraser University. “It [usually] takes a lot of project can be viewed as individual shorts or and the Canadian Armed Forces. consideration to figure out how to shoot as a one-hour piece at www.knowledge.ca/ something, but for this one, I saw in my program/our-first-voices-shorts HELEN HAIG-BROWN mind how it needed to be made. It’s such DVD copies can be ordered from Moving Through her Our First Voices films, a beautiful story.” Images Distribution in Vancouver. Visit Helen Haig-Brown takes the audience to Kelvin was responsible for Ts’ak, about a www.movingimages.ca for more information. the Chief Atahm Secwepemctsin language charming puppet that teaches children the immersion school in Math Class, presents Nisga’a language, Sisters Sam, about three a choir of Nsyilxc n singers as a single, sisters and a mother who are all teachers shifting form in Sylix Song, and tells her of Naka’zdli Dakelh, and Lullaby, the story own personal story of growing up with a of a young woman and her grandmother Tsilhqot’in-teaching mother and a grand- who work together to create a song in mother who speaks only Tsilhqot’in in Halq’eméylem for the woman’s child. Mom n’ Me. Some of Kelvin’s work is archived at the “Mom n’ Me has a very “home-video/ National Museum of the American Indian cinema verité feel, playing with the fact in Washington, D.C. His latest film, Fire- that I’m the camera person and a char- bear Called them Faith Healers screened at acter in the movie. That’s something the imageinNATIVE Film Festival and the I’ve wanted to try for a very long time,” North American Native Film Festival. says Helen. “On a personal note, it was He is currently working as a producer on emotional to do a piece on my family, my First Story, a First Nations current affairs mother and my language, talking about show on CTV. my personal feelings of language loss and the regeneration of it.” Helen is a Tsilhqot’in director, director of photography and teacher. Her latest film?E?anx (the Cave), a ten-minute sci-fi dramatic film in the Tsilhqot’in language, was named one of “Canada’s Top Ten” short films of 2009 by the Toronto Film Festival.

7

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 7 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

Former AADA Recipient Gives Back BY MENTORING A YOUNG ARTIST

can teach that, but if you understand the basics and have the foundation, it makes creativity flow that much more smoothly.

Q. Is there anything that your mentor, John left: Rande Cook with Livingston, taught you about mentoring that carved wooden panel of you are trying to pass on to Darryll? “Forever Family.” A. I think the greatest tools that I got from boel w: Darryll Dawson Jr. carving wooden panel. John were focus and discipline. When photos: By Kate Cino for you’re self-employed, that discipline can artopenings.ca in April of 2010 be that hardest thing because you don’t at the studio of Rande Cook. have anyone pushing you. But for most artists who are passionate about what Rande Cook is a Kwakwaka’wakw artist Luckily, John Livingston opened his they do, it’s a career. They get up every day who grew up in Alert Bay and now lives door for me. I started working there and and drive themselves. in Victoria, B.C. He mixes formline and then I was really exposed to carving. I ap- What I learned from John is that to be contemporary design to push boundaries plied for the [AADA] grant and got it and successful and to keep getting better all in his painting, carving and drawing. that helped me move into wood carving. the time, you must work, work, work. Also, Rande received funding from the First I spent six months training and studying enjoy what you do. If you’re having fun ev- Peoples’ Council’s Aboriginal Arts Devel- grain and three-dimensional carving. That ery day, it will show through in your work. opment Awards (AADA) in 2002 to men- was very beneficial. Those six months tor under John Livingston, with whom he changed my entire life and how I looked at For more information about Rande and his apprenticed for six years. Eight years after art—it became a career. work, visit: www.randecook.com. To find receiving his AADA grant, Rande is now I met so many people that influenced out more about the AADA awards, visit: “paying it forward”— mentoring Darryll me working with John—Art Thompson, www.fphlcc.ca/arts Dawson Jr., a young artist who received an Susan Point, Robertson Davidson, Joe AADA in 2010. David. I learned that they developed their own styles by studying the forms from We recently asked Rande some questions before, so I started spending all my time to find out more. studying and now I’m at the point where Q. What did your mentorship with John I can start creating my own style. That’s Livingston through the AADA do for your the biggest thing I can pass on to young artistic development? artists: study, study, study. A. The [AADA] award was probably the greatest thing that had happened for me Q. Now that you’ve become a mentor as an artist. I did two years of post-sec- for Darryll Dawson Jr. through the AADA ondary at Camosun College and felt like I awards, it completes a circle of mentorship. was floating—not sure of what I wanted What are you working on with Darryll and to do. I knew I wanted to be an artist, but what lessons are you trying to pass on? I didn’t know which direction to go. I was A. Darryll has come to me to study carving thinking about either Emily Carr or an ap- techniques, and whatever is in his brain prenticeship under someone. I didn’t feel we work on. I let him do his own thing but like I could get the true teachings of what help by providing tools and guidance. Northwest Coast art in school—you have Creativity comes from within—nobody to apprentice.

8

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 8 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

New Master-Apprentice Team Embraces Opportunity to Learn the Nisga’a Language

“I am doing this program to get my lan- learn to speak Nisga’a fluently, but in the guage back,” says Esther Stewart. “I grew future, she hopes to create a language-im- up with it. When we were going to school, mersion childcare program in Vancouver. we spoke the language and we got hit As a fully licensed early childhood educa- on the knuckles for talking our language tor, she’s well suited for the role. because they didn’t know what we were The Master-Apprentice Program is talking about,” she says. “I want to get our made possible with funding from the New language back.” Relationship Trust and the Ministry of The Master-Apprentice Program pairs a Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. fluent First Nations speaker (a “master”) with a committed learner (the “appren- tice”) for 900 hours of complete language immersion over three years. Twelve MASTER-APPRENTICE PROGRAM master-apprentice teams representing 11 This three-year program unites committed language learners (“apprentices”) with fluent B.C. First Nations languages completed speakers (“master”) for 300 of complete language immersion per year over three years. the initial three-year pilot program last The following teams began the Master-Apprentice Program in 2010. March with enormous success. A new group of 10 Master-Apprentice teams Secwepemctsin Team Éy7á7juuthem Team began in November. Masters: Andy Chelsea, Julianna Johnson, Master: Harold Harry Esther is the master and Edna Nyce is Phyllis Chelsea Apprentice: Katelynn Harry the apprentice for the Nisga’a language Apprentices: Ivy Chelsea, Fred Johnson Jr., Tse’khene Team team. Although they both live in Vancouver, Lori Marsh Master: Agnes Solonas far from traditional Nisga’a territory, Es- Wet’suwet’en Team Apprentice: Sharon Solonas ther and Edna are committed to practicing Master: Sophie Ogen Kwak’wala Team their language and culture. They have only Apprentice: Carla Lewis Master: Florence Hunt-Vesey recently begun the three-year Master-Ap- Skwxwú7mesh Team Apprentice: Trish Rosborough prentice program, but already the two have ¯ ¯ Master: Vanessa Campbell completed 50 hours of language immer- Apprentice: Dustin Rivers “We are so happy with the results of sion and are noticing results. Nisga’a Team the Master-Apprentice program,” says “I’m already using the language way Master: Esther Stewart Xway’Waat (Deanna Daniels), the more than I did before, even when I’m not Apprentice: Edna Nyce language program manager at the First with Esther,” says Edna. “And people are Haisla Team Peoples’ Council. “All the apprentices starting to notice—my husband, my chil- Master: Bernice Wilson became much more fluent in their lan- dren, my mom definitely notices. I’m even Apprentice: Sandra Robinson guages and we are so proud of them.” using it at work.” Hesquiaht (Nuu-chah-nulth) Team “People are interested. They’ll hear Edna Masters: Ang Galligos, Charles Lucas, To download a copy of Culture Camps say one word and they’ll go ‘oh, yeah. Lawrence Paul for Language Learning: an Immersion I know that one,’” says Esther. “It’s like Apprentices: Layla Rorick, Robin Rorick Handbook, visit www.fphlcc.ca/language/ a chain.” Nłe?kepmxcín Team publications. “It’s really exciting,” says Edna. “They’re ' Master: Marion Dixon inspired and in turn, that inspires me.” Apprentice: Jackie Johnson Edna’s main goal for the program is to

9

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 9 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

Bringing Our Languages BACK FROM THE BRINK

A “sleeping language” is a term used a Dene (Athapaskan) language, whose to describe a language that has no speakers lived in the Portland Canal area fluent speakers. Theoretically, a sleep- in northwestern B.C. The last known ing language can be revived if enough speaker was reported in 1927. documentation is left behind, although in An additional language, Lhe’chelesem most cases a language dies out with the (also known as Nooksack), is a Coast passing of its last speaker. Salish language spoken by the NookSack Languages hold the knowledge of its people in parts of what is now northern speakers—their stories, their cultural Washington state and B.C.’s lower main- practices and their understanding of land. Lhe’chelesem became a sleeping world. All of this is lost when a language language quite recently, in 1988. disappears. The three sleeping dialects in B.C. are Lekwungen, Semiahmoo and T’Sou-ke of Remembering the Lost Languages of the Northern Straits Salish dialects lan- British Columbia guage group. Each is part of a language Three languages and three dialects in group that includes dialects still spoken British Columbia have gone dormant today. With so many closely related within recent memory and it is unlikely dialects in close geographic proximity that they will be heard again. (SENC´OT¯EN, and Malchosen), these dia- Nicola is the name linguists have given lects could theoretically be reconstructed to the Dene (Athapaskan) language given the proper documentation. whose speakers lived in the Nicola Valley. The language is believed to have become Other Examples from Around the Globe a sleeping language in the early 1900s. It Although it is rare, sleeping languages is unknown what they called their lan- have been woken from their slumber in guage because so little was recorded, but the past. The most well-known example their Salishan speaking neighbours called is Classical Hebrew, which was rarely Languages hold the knowledge of its speakers — their stories, their cultural practices and their understanding of world. All of this is lost when a language disappears.

them the stuwix (“the strangers”). spoken except in limited religious con- Pentla’c’, as it was known by the texts until the late 19th century when neighbouring speakers of Ey7a’7juuthen there was a concerted effort to revive the and She Shashishalhen, was spoken by language. Now it is the national language people who lived on the east coast of of Israel and is spoken by over five million Central Vancouver Island, now home to people. Kwak’wala and Hul’q’umi’num’ speak- On a smaller scale, the Miami lan- ers. It became a sleeping language in the guage, an Amerindian language (Algic, 1940s. Algonquian family), which became a Wetalh (also known as Tsèts’aut) is sleeping language in the 1960s is being

10

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 10 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM

revived by Daryl Baldwin and the Miami another round of level 1 classes as well as Visit this link to find out more about the Tribe of Oklahoma. Daryl taught a new level 2 class. CURA funding program: himself the language and is now one of They have also written four children’s www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/ several speakers. books with audio tracks and will offer programs-programmes/cura-aruc-eng.aspx Many other languages have been revital- Wendat language lessons in elementary ized from near extinction, including Welsh schools next fall. Looking for more information about the in the United Kingdom, Catalan in Spain “Bringing back our language is more First Nations languages of B.C.? Visit these and New Zealand’s Maori. than just learning a few vocabulary words links: In each of these cases, government or expressions,” says Megan Lukaniec, The First Peoples’ Language Map of B.C. involvement, immersion programs, Wendat linguist and teacher. “It is a http://maps.fphlcc.ca language documentation and public rediscovery of a way of thought, a reawak- 2010 Report on the Status of B.C. First Na- commitment played a large part in the ening of our ancestry and a renewal of our tions Languages – language’s resurgence. identity as Wendat people.” www.fphlcc.ca/language/language-report

Reviving Huron-Wendat Nathalie Shendaehwas Picard (LEFT) with Megan Lukanic (RIGHT), Huron-Wendat teacher and linguist. The Huron-Wendat in Wendake, Que- bec present further proof that sleeping languages are not necessarily extinct languages. Huron-Wendat is an Iroquoian language with no living speakers, but was docu- mented by Jesuit priests in the 1600s and 1700s. And while there may be no fluent Wendat speakers at this point in time, if the efforts of the Wendake community are any indication, there may be some in the near future. The Wendake community has partnered with the First Peoples’ Council, Laval University and the Council of the Huron- Wendat Nation as part of the Yawenda Project, a $1 million Community-University Research Alliance (CURA) project to re-awaken their sleeping language.

The results of the Yawenda Project have been impressive: The Wendake community has recon- structed and standardized over 200 words and almost 200 expressions for their FirstVoices archive with funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage. Interest in adult classes exceeded expec- tations last year and they are now offering

11

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 11 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM firstvoices language tutor a finalist for viatec ‘product of the year’ award

The First Peoples’ Council’s latest tool to From left to right: Tracey Herbert, Executive teach First Nations languages was a final- Director, the First Peoples’ Council; Pauline Terbas- ist in the “Product of the Year” category ket, Chair, the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation; Peter Brand, FirstVoices Coordinator; Shaylene at the 2010 Victoria Advanced Technology Boechler, FirstVoices Trainer; Alex Wadsworth, Council (VIATeC) Technology Awards. Senior Systems Analyst, First Peoples’ Council The FirstVoices Language Tutor, de- veloped in collaboration with the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation and Udutu Staff, board and advisory committee of the FirstP eoples’ Online Learning Solutions, is an online Council at Quaaout Lodge near Chase, B.C. for our 2010 interactive language-teaching applica- Annual General Meeting tion. Aboriginal communities can use it to create language lessons and track their board of directors students’ progress, which makes it ideal Dr. Lorna Williams Chair, Government Business Seat for classroom use. Herbert Morven Vice-Chair, Nisga’a Lisims Government Tamara Davidson Secretary, Council Of The Haida Nation Visit the Language Tutor online: Emma Donnessy Treasurer, Kaska Tribal Council firstvoices.com/tutor Mariann Burka Government Seat We have also created a four-minute video webinars help the council Bill Cohen Okanagan Nation Alliance about the Language Tutor: www.fphlcc.ca/ connect to artists and Marlene Erickson Carrier Sekani Tribal Council John Haugen Nlaka’pamux Nation media-room/videos language champions Laura Webb Treaty 8 Tribal Association Clifford Atleo Nuu’chah’nulth Tribal Council We’re now offering online seminars to Phyllis Chelsea Northern Shuswap Tribal Council inform our community partners Gary Johnston Urban Representative about how to apply for grants through the Recognized Observer: John Elliott language and arts programs. advisory committee Webinar participants can watch First Mary Basil Ktunaxa Nation Published by the First Peoples’ Heritage, Language Peoples’ Council staff deliver PowerPoint Clifford Atleo Nuu’chah’nulth Tribal Council and Culture Council Mike Willie Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council 1A Boat Ramp Road, Brentwood Bay, B.C. V8M 1N9, Canada presentations through a live feed. Questions tel (250)652-5952 fax (250)652-5953 Phyllis Chelsea Northern Shuswap Tribal Council www.fphlcc.ca can be typed in and are answered right away. website: Bill Cohen Okanagan Nation Alliance It’s a great way to find out about program editor Megan Lappi, [email protected] Tamara Davidson Council Of The Haida Nation writer Doug Hamilton-Evans criteria and get tips on applying for grants - design Metaform Thelma Wenman Sto':lo Nation Council without leaving your home or office. We wish to acknowledge the funders whose financial Emma Donnessy Kaska Tribal Council support has contributed to our success: Ministry of Aboriginal Marlene Erickson Carrier Sekani Tribal Council Relations and Reconciliation, New Relationship Trust, John Haugen Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation, BC Arts Council, Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council. John Henderson Kwakiutl District Council Susan James Lillooet Tribal Council Bernadette Manuel Nicola Tribal Association Herbert Morven Nisga’a Lisims Government Deborah Nelson Oweekeno-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil Sto':lo- Tribal Council Laura Webb Treaty 8 Tribal Association Chief Allan Louie Carrier-Chilcotin Tribal Council Find out when the next webinar is being Betty Sampson Gitxsan Chief’s Office

pantone 311- blue firstpantone 4635- brown peoples’ held by following us on Facebook or Twitter cultural foundation or by checking out our website at www. fphlcc.ca. You can also call (250) 652-5952 for more information.

FPCC News_2011_v10.indd 12 2011-Mar-11 4:02 PM