“New videos to promote and preserve the use of the Maliseet language in New Brunswick were launched today in Fredericton by community members from the Tobique First Nation.”
“We Were Not the Savages is a history of the near demise, from a Mi'kmaq perspective, of ancient democratic North American First Nations, caused by the European invasion of the Americas, with special focus on the Mi'kmaq. Although other European Nations, Spain for instance, were in on the slaughter this history relates in detail the actions of only one, Great Britain.”
“This article shares the stories of three Mi’kmaw teachers who are bringing their Aboriginal cultural practical knowledge into the school landscape through pedagogy and relationality, as they work towards the decolonization of their education system.”
“The article focuses on the acquisition of Aboriginal languages as a second language in Canada. According to the report, Aboriginal mother tongues has been declining but has been offset to some degree by the fact that many Aboriginal people have learned an Aboriginal language as a second language. In addition, the acquisition of Aboriginal language as a second language could revitalize or slow the extinction of endangered languages.”
“This literature survey was conducted to provide information on Aboriginal language learning and teaching in Alberta. Although direction was given to the researchers/writers to establish parameters for the task, the content of this document reflects the writers’ perspectives on topics and subjects reviewed and does not necessarily reflect the position of Alberta Education.”
“This paper discusses the contribution of school-based mother-tongue literacy to the maintenance and renewal of endangered languages, with Navajo as the case in point. Although Navajo claims the most speakers among U.S. indigenous languages, the absolute number and relative proportion of Navajo speakers have declined drastically in the last 30 years. Language usage varies across the Navajo Reservation, depending on individual community histories and contact with English. English dominates the print environment, although other forces reinforce the primacy of oral Navajo.
“In this paper we argue that although the problematic nature of language construction has been acknowledged by a number of skeptical authors, including the recent claim in this journal (Reagan, 2004) that there is no such thing as English or any other language, this critical approach to language still needs to develop a broader understanding of the processes of invention.
“This book demonstrates that an indigenous teachers' group has the potential to transform the culture of schooling. Personal narratives by Yup'ik Eskimo teachers speak directly to issues of equity and school transformation. Their struggles represent the beginning of a slow process by a group of Yup'ik teachers (Ciulistet) and university colleagues to reconcile differences and conflict between the cultures of school and community.
“It is difficult for our Native American languages and cultures to survive and it will get more difficult. One of the reasons for this increasing difficulty for Native language groups is that we are in the midst of a cultural transition which has demeaned our languages and cultures. However, remember that our cultures have proven their ability to survive and adapt over the past thousands of years when they have undergone other cultural transitions. Let us not allow this present cultural transition to be any different.
