Preservation & Revitalization

Outlines changes in attitudes towards language use and preservation, and the importance of Cree as the language of instruction. Uses the community of Mistissini, Quebec as an example of one language being used in the home and when hunting, and another dominating in other situations. Text in French.

Author reviews current research on Indigenous language revitalization in Canada and the United States, argues that successful programming will require methods other than those contained within the frameworks of Second Language Acquisition/Learning (SLA/L).

Education Thesis (Ed.D.)--Oregon State University, 2001.

[Linguistics] Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Dakota, 1997.

Book reviews of: The Witch of Goingsnake and Other Stories by Robert J. Conley. Social Change in the Southwest, 1350-1880 by Thomas D. Hall. Collections Arctiques by Yvon Csonka. New Directions in American Indian History edited by Colin G. Calloway. Hasinai: A Traditional History of the Caddo Confederacy by Vynola Beaver Newkumet, Howard L. Meredith. Sous le signe de l'ours.

Book reviews of: America’s Second Tongue: American Indian Education and the Ownership of English, 1860–1900 by Ruth Spack. Anthropologists and Indians in the New South edited by Rachel A. Bonney and J.

Life and career of internationally known Cree linguist Freda Greyeyes from the Ahtahkakoop First Nation and the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.

An assessment was performed on the current state of the Mohawk language skills using a detailed questionnaire; results indicated efforts to teach Mohawk to the younger generation were successful.

Field test draft.

Advocates efforts to retain Inuit languages.

Discusses the language revitalization efforts of a local community radio station.

Leadership and Training Thesis (M.A.)--Royal Roads University, 2002.

Discusses Language Keepers project which includes the development and production of a new dictionary, audio recordings, and a video archive of natural group conversations.

Tool to help advocates, educators and communities develop a vision for language education, understand their current situation and resources, and create a comprehensive plan to execute their vision.

He gives an account of the Sioux participation in the War of 1812 on the side of the British, and the Sioux interpretation of the reward promised them by the British Crown; tells the history and whereabouts of the King George III medals given to the Sioux for their loyalty to the British Crown during the War of 1812; tells the story of two Sioux chiefs who were kidnapped in Manitoba and returned to the United States, presumably for their part in the 1862 Sioux uprising (Minnesota Massacre); tells of the dispersal of the Sioux in their flight from the U.S.

He tells a story of a woman who was taken prisoner and carried off to live in an enemy camp; her treachery against her brothers and husband when they came to rescue her; how she was killed by her own mother because of her treachery; her mother's atonement after the killing.

Present results from survey conducted with Aboriginal people aged 15-34 about community values and priorities.

Reports on the progress of a dictionary of the Jicarilla Apache language.

Relates the history of educational programs in Northern Canada, the government policies of 1960s to 1970s, and the implementation of a bilingual educational policy in Nunavik.

Interview includes a general account of Rose Bertha Fleury's life.

Rosie Ella Kewayosh (side A) and Elizabeth May Isaac (side B) give general reminiscences of their lives.

RCAP 123 contains a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at The Fern Resort, Orillia, Ontario. This portion includes presentations of groups concerned with veterans, the disabled and seniors, housing, child welfare and language preservation.

The file contains the presentation of a discussion paper by Brenda Wesley. Wesley discusses cultural preservation from her perspective as a Gitksan person.

File contains an individual presentation by Alice Frost relating to the necessity of elders teaching the Vuntut Gwitch'in language to youth and to social problems in Old Crow. Frost states that her community's social problems must be solved before "land claims is settled because we need educated people to run our self-government." A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains an individual presentation by Madeleine Moonias, a Native language teacher and parent that focuses on Aboriginal culture, language and education. She states that when Aboriginal languages die out, so does Aboriginal culture. Moonias calls on the Commission to help ensure that school boards in northwestern Ontario encourage Native language maintenance and to foster positive attitudes to strengthen cultural identity for Aboriginal students. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Mary Lou Iahtail, teacher at Moosonee Public School in Moosonee, Ontario. She describes her experiences at the Fort Albany Residential School in Ontario where she learned to read and write in Cree. Iahtail states that a Cree immersion program is needed at her school and calls for the Commission to fund Cree immersion programs so the Cree language does not disappear.

File contains an individual presentation by Randall Tetlichi that touches on a number of subjects, including self-government, residential schools, the loss of Aboriginal languages, substance abuse, health services, economic development and education. A lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains an individual presentation by Shawn Bruce focusing on the necessity of teaching the Vuntut Gwitch'in language to youth to ensure it does not become extinct. Bruce is frustrated with the division in his family due to Bill C-31 and rulings by the Old Crow council that have determined the speaker's sisters to be Indian and one brother as non-status. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

This file contains a transcript of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at The Citadel Inn, Ottawa, Ontario. This is an overview of Discussion Paper No.6 written by Dr. Brent Galloway from Saskatchewan Indian Federated College concerning the retention of Native Language. The overview is given by Dr. Eber Hampton, president of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College.

File contains a presentation by Alex McKay and George Fulford. McKay discusses Ojibwa spiritual beliefs and the importance of Aboriginal languages. Fulford expands on this by presenting on Aboriginal languages in a Canadian Constitutional and political policy context. Fulford reccomends that the Royal Commission "appoint a task force to look into the matter of aboriginal language and education in Canada." Following the presentations is a discussion between the presenters and the assembled Commissioners on language issues.

File contains a presentation by Archie Patrick and Linda Prince relating to social programs for the Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council, and to the Yinka Dene Language Institute. Prince discusses health services and Patrick speaks about the operations and funding for the Institute.

This file contains a presentation by Athelstan Burrows, also a member of the Board of Directors, Quebec Association of Protestant School Boards, and David Daoust that focuses on educational issues relating to Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

File contains a presentation by Brian Williams focusing on social issues in education. He states that each Aboriginal community must have an economic base that provides adequate training that results in jobs and financial security for its residents. He also believes that each community's land base must be acknowledged by the Canadian and British Columbia governments and calls on the Commission to ensure continuing funding to ensure the preservation of the Gitksan culture and language, and all Aboriginal languages.

File contains a presentation made by Darren Deschambeault on Aboriginal language preservation and history preservation in general. Also contained are comments and questions from the assembled Commissioners and those of the Commissioner-of-the-Day.

File contains a presentation by Dawna LeBlanc expressing concern for the acceleratred rate at which Aboriginal languages are becoming extinct. The death of community elders plays a large part in the elimination of languages today. She states that "language has a direct bearing on how we see ourselves as a people and our role in self-government, on land claims and our claim to a distinct society." Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

This file contains a presentation by Doug Maracle relating to the Woodland Cultural Centre's commitment to ongoing research, education, acquisition of resource materials, the development of First Nations language-based resources, library, museum and art collections, while maintaining standard recognized by academic and professional communities.

This file contains a presentation by Edward J. Cross whose group's mandate is to preserve, maintain and promote Kanien'kehaka language, culture and tradition and to provide the community with the tools for its survival as a people. After federal government funding for the committee was frozen and eventually cut back over the last five years, Cross calls on the Commission to help establish a renewed relationship with Aboriginal peoples and the federal government, based on mutual respect and a willingness to solve funding concerns.

The file contains a presentation by Evelyn Ballantyne. Ballantyne discusses Bill C-31 and its effects on the lives of Aboriginal women in Manitoba with reference to housing, discrimination, lack of consultation of women on major political decisions, and the Charlottetown Accord referendum. Edith Young discusses women's and general Aboriginal issues including loss of culture and language, violence and residential schooling, family violence, the need for financial aid, the need for healing lodges, alcoholism, and political corruption at the band level.

This file contains a presentation by Fran Williams that begins with a brief history of the Native communication organization. Williams states that "Native broadcasting is essential for the preservation of our language and culture." She recommends that Inuktitut and other major Aboriginal languages should receive recognition in the Broadcast Act as official languages. Williams calls on the Commission to ensure funding continues for this important organization that actively works to keep the Inuktitut language from extinction.

File contains a presentation by Georgette Djan-Drapper, the Saskatchewan representative of the organization, focusing on racism in Canada, retention of Black identity, language and culture, and better treatment from the criminal justice system. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Glen Williams discussing the Gitksan culture immersion program for pre- and primary school children in Gitanyow. The program is modeled on a Maori cultural school program in New Zealand and Williams calls for more funding from the Canadian government to ensure that the Gitksan culture and language does not become extinct. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Gregory Penashue expressing frustration with his years of "futile activism" on behalf of the Innu people of Labrador. He protests yearly funding cuts for a multitude of programs in Sheshatshiu and other neghboring communities that would keep Innu culture and language from extinction. He calls on the Commission to consider Innu culture and language important enough to preserve through proper funding. Following the presentation are remarks by the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by J. Spencer Rowe. Rowe makes an individual presentation on cultural issues. Rowe discusses the importance of Aboriginal language education, and how he views spirituality as the path forward for Aboriginal peoples but that this root is difficult as they have become seperated from their lands.

File contains a presentation by James Panioyak that initially describes a harsh life in the bush for Inuit children pre-contact, but a fulfilling one as children learned to respect their parents, their elders and the land. By a person's late teens, survival skills had been learned and upon marriage, a man was capable of fishing and trapping to feed his family and a woman was able to make and repair clothing and to prepare and cook food. Panioyak hopes the Inuktitut language will not die out and believes that elders should be utilized to teach children and youth the old ways and language.

File contains a presentation by Jill Henderson, a student at the Sagkeeng School. Henderson, who is Junior Chief of her school, presents on the value and importance of learning the Ojibway language. Henderson discusses her views on how language is a key aspect of one's culture, as well as her personal attempts to learn her people's language.

File contains a presentation by Johnny Inukpuk. Inukpuk relates some of the history of his Inuit people in the area from the time of Hudson's Bay Company contact, through contact with the police and up into the present era. He highlights as one of his primary concerns the preservation of Inuit culture and language. Commissioner Dussault thanks him for his presentation.

File contains a presentation by Judith Hill expressing concern about the potential loss of Innu culture and the Inuit language if not continuing to be taught in Peenamin School. She states that the lack of staff and funding to make the materials required for the classroom is limiting learning for the students. Following the presentation are brief remarks by each Commissioner.

File contains a presentation by Leonard Matthew regarding a number of issues relating to the James Bay area. He discusses his group's wish to help in the preservation of "our land, our culture and traditional way of life, and also with our language." Matthew states that more Aboriginals are completing post-secondary education but there are no jobs for them in their home communities. He calls on the Commission to help with funding and employment in the James Bay area. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.