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Taking Action on First Nations Language

Sunday, 16 December 2018 21:14

A gathering to exchange ideas, aspirations, best practices and current developments between Elders, institutional partners, university based scholars and language activists, coordinators and workers.

Indigenous leader from across North America gathered for day 1 of the "Taking Action on First Nations Language Priorities" today at the Yukon Transportation Museum in Whitehorse.

A keynote address was given by Chief Steve Smith today to mark the opening of the forum, and discussions around revitalization efforts for the Tlingit, Tutchone while other languages were of prominence later in the morning.

Southern Tutchone language speaker and teacher Stephen Reid, was a keynote speaker at the event and helps run a two-year tutchone immersion program in Haines Junction and described what gives him the most excitement when he help his students start learning their native language.

University of Alaska Southeast Professor Lance Twitchell, also another keynote speaker at the event, says it's a shared responsibility for learners to better understand and speak their languages.

The event will continue tomorrow and will discuss how the use of digital technologies can help in language learning.

DAY 2

"Taking Action on First Nations Language Priorities" today at the the Yukon Transportation Museum.

One of the focuses was on using digital application to assist in Indigenous Language Learning and SFU Professor Marianne Ignace says archival recordings play an important part in language revitalization.

Candiace, an assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, says there are multitudes of accessible online material helping in the revitalization of the Hawaiian Language.

Other prominent speakers at the two-day event included Chieve Steve Smith, University of Alaska Southeast Native Language Professor Lance Twitchell and Yanyeidi Executive COuncillor Duane Gastant Aucoin.

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