scholarly journals Consequences and Remedies of Indigenous Language Loss in Canada

Societies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Masud Khawaja
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Language Loss ◽  
Intergenerational Knowledge

Many Indigenous languages in Canada are facing the threat of extinction. While some languages remain in good health, others have already been lost completely. Immediate action must be taken to prevent further language loss. Throughout Canada’s unacceptable history of expunging First Nations’ ways of life, systemic methods such as residential schools attempted to eradicate Indigenous cultures and languages. These efforts were not entirely successful but Indigenous language and culture suffered greatly. For Indigenous communities, language loss impaired intergenerational knowledge transfer and compromised their personal identity. Additionally, the cumulative effects of assimilation have contributed to poor mental and physical health outcomes amongst Indigenous people. However, language reclamation has been found to improve well-being and sense of community. To this objective, this paper explores the historical context of this dilemma, the lasting effects of assimilation, and how this damage can be remediated. Additionally, we examine existing Indigenous language programs in Canada and the barriers that inhibit the programs’ widespread success. Through careful analysis, such barriers may be overcome to improve the efficacy of the programs. Institutions must quickly implement positive changes to preserve Indigenous languages as fluent populations are rapidly disappearing.

scholarly journals 15. Indigenous Language Resurgence and the Living Earth Community

2020 ◽  
pp. 171-184
Author(s):  
Mark Turin
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Cultural Revitalization

Drawing attention to the contemporary resurgence of indigenous languages, Mark Turin describes the collaborative work of linguistic and cultural revitalization in response to the destruction of indigenous communities in settler colonial nations. While recuperating the vitality of languages, this process also facilitates the recuperation of the well-being of indigenous communities as well as the lands within which those languages and communities are embedded.

Indigenous Languages: Their Threatened Extinction Is a Global Responsibility

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Cárdenas ◽  
Roxane de la Sablonnière ◽  
Donald M. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Bilingual Education ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Language Revitalization ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Reversal Theory ◽  
Global Responsibility

Indigenous languages are at the verge of extinction. For many indigenous communities, saving their languages means protecting one of the last-standing symbols of their cultural identity, a symbol that has survived a history of colonization and that can impact their well-being. If indigenous languages are to survive, language revitalization strategies need to be adopted by indigenous communities and governments. One such strategy is language revitalization planning, where communities and governments are actively engaged in changing the way group members use language. Language revitalization plans are often derived from two theoretical stands, either language reversal theory (which adopts a language-autonomy perspective) or language vitality (which focuses on the factors that favor a linguistic group’s survival). Language revitalization strategies also involve some form of bilingual education. Bilingual education in indigenous communities allows indigenous children to learn, and hence to gain competency in, both their indigenous language and the mainstream language. Strong forms of bilingualism, as opposed to weak forms of bilingualism, have great potential for nourishing competency in indigenous languages, because they give equal value to the indigenous language and the mainstream language. Language revitalization strategies also need to consider the collective functions of language, or how groups use their language. Language can be used by groups as a vehicle for cultural knowledge, as a symbol of identity, and as a tool for communicating in formal and informal settings. Strengthening the collective function of indigenous languages is essential to their survival. In the case of indigenous people, every single step taken to revitalize their languages (language planning, bilingual education, and the collective functions of language) is an affirmation of their continuous existence in the world, upholding their distinctiveness from colonizers. This “collective existential affirmation” of indigenous people may very well be the drive needed to achieve language revival.

Towards an Understanding of Knowledge Sharing in Indigenous Communities of Practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 208-232
Author(s):  
Esabel Maisiri
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Cultural Symbol ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Practice Knowledge

Knowledge sharing is broadly an act of communication, and in indigenous communities of practice, knowledge sharing can be viewed as a cultural symbol making process. This process is facilitated by indigenous language as the communication tool. The characteristics of indigenous languages that include being dynamic, constantly changing as people adjust to their life circumstances and being personal, tacit, and experiential renders it closely tied down to the person who knows the language. Thus, the most appropriate way to understand the use and exchange of such knowledge, that is, the communication phenomenon of indigenous knowledge, would be to extricate the personal experiences of individuals involved in the use and exchange of the indigenous knowledge. This can be done using van Manen's phenomenology of practice.

scholarly journals Measuring What Counts to Advance Indigenous Self-Determination: A Case Study of the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government’s Quality of Life Framework and Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Bouchard ◽  
Adam Perry ◽  
Shannon West-Johnson ◽  
Thierry Rodon ◽  
Michelle Vanchu-Orosco
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Self Determination

Abstract Modern Treaties are presented as a means for improving the lives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada by providing specific rights, and negotiated benefits. However, the positive impacts of Modern Treaties on Indigenous well-being are contested (Borrows and Coyle 2017; Coulthard 2014; Guimond et al. 2013; Miller 2009; Poelzer and Coates 2015). Developing a more transparent, consistent, collaborative and contextual way of measuring well-being relevant to the cultural realities of Modern Treaty beneficiaries is an important step for generating comparative methods that could systematically demonstrate whether, and under what conditions, such agreements can effectively reduce socio-economic disparities and improve the quality of life of Indigenous communities. The authors first examine previous attempts at measuring Indigenous well-being, then reflect on well-being in relation to the Modern Treaty context. Subsequently, the authors provide an example from one Self-Governing Indigenous Government, the Nisga’a Lisims Government, to collect well-being data through the Nisga’a Nation Household Survey using a mixed quantitative-qualitative method developed through a culturally grounded and participatory approach.

scholarly journals Decolonizing the digital landscape: the role of technology in Indigenous language revitalization

2021 ◽  
pp. 117718012110376
Author(s):  
Paul J Meighan
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Language Revitalization ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Indigenous Language Revitalization ◽  
Digital Landscape

Due to colonization and imperialism, Indigenous languages continue to be threatened and endangered. Resources to learn Indigenous languages are often severely limited, such as a lack of trained or proficient teachers. Materials which follow external standards or Western pedagogies may not meet the needs of the local community. One common goal for Indigenous language revitalization initiatives is to promote intergenerational language transmission and use in multiple social domains, such as the home. Could the use of technology assist in Indigenous language revitalization? And what would be its role? This article, emerging from ongoing research, aims to synthesize some key takeaways on the role of digital and online technologies in Indigenous language revitalization over the past three decades since the foundation of the World Wide Web in 1989. The article highlights how Indigenous communities, content creators, scholars and visionaries have contributed to an ongoing decolonization of the digital landscape.

Indigenous Language Rights—Miner’s Canary or Mariner’s Tern?

2018 ◽  
pp. 81-104
Author(s):  
Teresa L. McCarty
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Language Loss ◽  
Language Rights ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Language Planning And Policy ◽  
Endangered Language

Drawing on the international literature in language planning and policy, this chapter examines Indigenous language rights. Like the diagnostic “miner’s canary,” the rights accorded or denied to Indigenous peoples reflect larger issues of equity and justice for minoritized- and endangered-language communities. The chapter begins with background on Indigenous peoples, their distinctive status as originary peoples and inherent sovereigns, the present state of Indigenous language vitality and endangerment, and the stakes involved in Indigenous language loss and reclamation. Following is an examination of research and practice in Indigenous language rights. A third section examines those rights in a key public domain: education. The chapter concludes with the implications of this work for the revitalization and sustainability of Indigenous languages and their associated cultural and knowledge systems. An aspirational alternative to the “miner’s canary” metaphor is offered, in which language rights are rooted in the principle and practice of Indigenous self-determination.

Legal Framework to Gender-Based Violence, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Indigenous Women in Cameroon

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-387
Author(s):  
Patrick Ageh Agejo
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Indigenous Women ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
The Government ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
The Right

AbstractMen and women have different health profiles which necessitate different health needs, as a result of their biology and their distinct status in society. Discrimination and harmful traditional practices in many societies in the global south further affect the reproductive health of indigenous women. The paper will highlight discrimination against women in patriarchal indigenous communities in Cameroon. The paper focuses on violations that affect women’s reproductive health. The paper will discuss these violations in light of the country’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal No. 3 on good health and well-being and Goal No. 5 on gender equality. The paper will also highlight the national and international laws addressing the right to the reproductive health of indigenous women. It will also examine gender-sensitive interventions, legislation and policies put in place by the indigenous community and the Government of Cameroon if any. The paper will end with conclusion and suggestions/recommendations on ways to improve the reproductive health of indigenous women in Cameroon.

scholarly journals Language and culture in dimension

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-346
Author(s):  
Tereza Tayná Coutinho Lopes ◽  
Marília Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
The People

Onomastic studies in general—and the studies of the onomastic systems of indigenous languages in particular—require interdisciplinary investigations that address properly the diversity inherent in the field. In this vein, the present work discusses how linguistic concepts dialogue with anthropology and ethnography in the study of the onomastic system of Parkatêjê, an indigenous language spoken by the people of the same name, who currently inhabit the area called Reserva Indígena Mãe Maria (RIMM), close to the municipality of Marabá (Pará, Brazil). We will discuss aspects observed in the description of the anthroponyms known and used mostly by native speakers of the Parkatêjê language. The methodology of the study consisted of bibliographic research and ethnographic research with data collection in the indigenous area inhabited by the indigenous communities in question.

scholarly journals Languages in Danger: How Can Linguistic Diversity Be Preserved and Promoted in Nepal?

2020 ◽  
pp. 503-511
Author(s):  
Min Pun ◽  
Kamal Gurung
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Native Languages ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
The Government

This paper focuses on the decline and death of indigenous languages with special reference to sampled languages used by indigenous communities in Kaski district, arguing that the indigenous language communities should be supported by the government for giving official status to their native languages, focused on formulation and implementation of education policies, and encouraged to insist on speaking their native languages. Together, the indigenous language communities need to collaborate with the government to curb all the issues related to preserving and promoting linguistic diversity in Nepal. Based on the findings and discussion of the study, the following recommendations have been made to preserve and promote linguistic diversity in Nepal: 1) The findings of the study concluded that documentation is one of the most important ways to preserve and promote indigenous languages; 2) The findings of this study concluded that both formal and informal languages classes can be effective to cover all types of age group indigenous language speakers; 3) It is recommended that language teachers should be provided with appropriate trainings to be good indigenous language teachers; 4) It is recommended that indigenous language groups should put pressure on the government for policy development and political advocacy for the preservation of indigenous languages; 5) The study suggested that indigenous language groups should be given language awareness programs occasionally in order to motivate them to use their native languages and then to preserve the linguistic diversity in Nepal; and 6) The study suggested that indigenous language communities need to get help of language researchers to address the issues related to indigenous language revitalization strategies.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Vibrio cholerae in Herring Eggs: The Role of Indigenous Communities in Public Health Outbreak Responses

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paivi Abernethy ◽  
Shannon Waters ◽  
Tim Kulchyski ◽  
Dave Rolston ◽  
Helena Swinkels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Vibrio Cholerae ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Food Sources

Climate change brings about novel types of public health emergencies. Unforeseen challenges put additional pressure on health systems and require innovative approaches to address emerging needs. The health of Indigenous Peoples is particularly impacted by the changing climate, because of their close connection to the land. For instance, the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of coastal First Nations in British Columbia (BC), Canada, is interconnected with the abundance of healthy marine food sources that form the base of local traditional diets. The 2018 discovery of Vibrio cholerae illness in those who had eaten contaminated herring eggs not only had a clinical health impact but also created concerns for the safety of local food systems. The limited magnitude of the outbreak demonstrates the critical importance of collaborative partnerships between coastal First Nations communities in BC and health authorities working together in outbreak investigations. Yet, the lack of procedures that address cultural and institutional differences led to unnecessary discrepancies in the approach. This paper introduces the public health intervention used during the first ever Vibrio cholerae outbreak in coastal BC. The intervention has the potential to inform best practices when developing emergency response protocols potentially affecting Indigenous people and traditional foods. In this qualitative case study of the formal institutional documents and narratives of the key partners involved in the response, we assess the intervention, highlight the challenges and enablers, share lessons learned, and identify knowledge requirements to improve confidence in the traditional food system and support early warning systems.

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