Canada launches United Nations Decade of Indigenous Languages in Ottawa
CBC
Representatives from across the country gathered Friday in Ottawa to celebrate the Canadian launch of the United Nations Decade of Indigenous Languages.
The launch was held at the Royal Canadian Geographic Society by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and Perry Bellegarde, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Simon, who is Inuk, is the first Indigenous Governor General and spoke about the importance of preserving languages, using her first language, Inuktitut, as an example.
She said she hopes her language grows, not just survives, and said it's crucial to keep using languages in order to protect them.
"I think we can all agree that there's no better way of preserving and enhancing one's language than using it, and using it in every possible venue, in any venue that we're able to," Simon said.
Mi'kmaw singer Emma Stevens from Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia sang three songs at the event, one honouring the MMIWG movement, another a love song to Cape Breton, and a Mi'kmaw version of The Beatles song Blackbird. She said it was an amazing experience being there to sing in her language.
"Being Indigenous myself and coming from a community myself that the language is kind of losing its value there, too… it was great to be a part of the event," she said.
She said she hopes to use music as a way to keep the language alive.
"I can hopefully get more language with music into my community … because music is a universal language," said Stevens.
Joshua Morin, a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta who teaches Michif classes in St. Albert, Alta., spoke at the event, reciting a 1982 prayer by Father Guy Lavallee. He said the words he said were fitting, as they discussed language and were recited previously in 1982 during Constitution talks in Ottawa.
Morin said he was honoured to be a part of the event.
"When I think of this decade, I'm very proud of the work that people have done, that people continue to do," he said.
"[I'm] just very, very proud and honoured that I'm able to keep that work continuing going for future generations."
Morin also said he hopes to see more financial equity among Canada's language efforts within the decade.
Before NASA astronaut Sally Ride’s historic launch aboard the space shuttle in 1983 as the first American woman in space, she was asked a question: Would 100 tampons be the right number for her week-long mission?
Ashley Stevens has scars inside and out from her time in an Ontario jail.
Winnipeg resident John Ruhland first began taking medication for his depression in 2000 when a period of enormous stress — both at work and in his personal life — landed him in the hospital.
A group of young adults from Cumberland House Cree Nation travelled to British Columbia in November to take part in a program designed help them develop the skills needed to succeed should they decide to move away from their home northeast of Saskatoon.
In just a few short months, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will make history.
Chiefs from Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta are calling for a pause on the pipeline memorandum of understanding until they are consulted and sign off on the potential project. And they're threatening legal action if that doesn't happen.
When dolphins swam onto the scene during a study on northern resident orcas off the coast of B.C., at least one researcher admitted to being a little annoyed.
Researchers say there's been a dramatic rise in the number of people going on medications to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Ontario, suggesting factors such as more time spent online and the rise of private assessments for the mental condition could be behind the increase.
Baby, it’s cold outside — but it’s worth putting on that heavy winter coat, scarf and boots and heading out for one of the best meteor showers of the year: the Geminids.
Health officials are reminding Canadians to maintain healthy habits during the holiday season, as influenza leads to more school absences and hospitalizations.
For 40 years, staff at Nova Scotia's Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens thought their ginkgo tree was male.
Health Canada has authorized a new drug to treat postpartum depression.
A website selling moccasins with what looks like Haudenosaunee-style beadwork but with no attribution to an artist or community has sparked conversation online about how to identify authentic Indigenous crafts.