It is important to revitalize and protect Indigenous languages because they are the backbones of our cultures. The language we speak influences the way we perceive the world, thus impacting the way we behave and interact with others. If a language isn’t preserved, that particular way of being will cease to exist. Languages carry the wisdom and ideologies of specific cultures with the malleability to either remove or add diction that best suits its speakers based on environment, values, customs, and beliefs.

Indigenous languages are generations upon generations of knowledge, wisdom, and experience wrapped into beautiful words that fall off the tongue. It is incredible to think about how many generations have spoken their mother tongue; languages are something that can live longer than any of us can imagine.

Languages are particular to environment, diet, and culture. For example, my mother tongue of Inuktitut is known for the myriad of words relating to snow (maybe not 104 words as generally stated by the media, but still — there are many). It isn’t surprising to us though; we need specific words and phrases to describe snow as it relates to real-life instances. The difference between soft snow or hard snow for example could determine how long a trip could take on the ice, if a dog team will struggle in deep snow, if the snow is wet or deep, etc. Inuktitut has specific snow-related words that are relevant and that save lives. This is one aspect of why languages deserve to be preserved — they are culturally specific and adhere to areas of life that do not apply to everyone. For speakers of the same language, they are inherently linked.

Language connects generations. Language connects communities. Language unites people of different backgrounds, life experiences, etc. It is a constant aspect of life that connects people to their ancestors. Oral histories are to be validated and credited the same way written word is — just because someone or a group of people preserved their stories and ideologies one way does not automatically dismiss the other.

language as celebration

There is a strong sense of pride within speakers of Indigenous languages. It is an act of resistance and proof of existence when Indigenous people speak their mother tongue. It is important to revitalize and preserve Indigenous languages not only to stand up against colonialism, but to celebrate identity. To speak your mother tongue, especially an Indigenous language, is a call for colonizers to roll in their graves. Keep talking.

There is a disconnect in relation to language in most Indigenous communities today due to the impact of residential schools and assimilation. It is apparent in today’s society how big of an impact this has had on Indigenous languages. Lianne Leddy states, “Banning our languages was a cornerstone of assimilationist practices that were widespread in Canada. When you erase a people’s language, it is an attempt to erase them.” (Leddy, 2021).

Colonial practices were designed to shame and scare Indigenous children for speaking their mother tongues, and it is important to recognize that these languages weren’t “lost” — they were stolen.

They say “loss of culture” as if we’re so careless. Loss? Our culture was stolen. — Dr. Verna St. Denis

The children who survived these experiences grew up and are now our grandmothers, grandfathers, and respected Elders. Their sisters, brothers, cousins, friends, and neighbors who did not survive the horrors of residential schools will forever be valued by us.

Many of the survivors, my grandparents included, held onto our language despite childhood traumas from priests and “educators.” These influences challenged the way they viewed their mother tongues, and many survivors did not pass the language onto their children. That’s okay, and they are not to blame; they were doing what they had to do to survive, and we love them no matter what. The current generation of young people, adults, and survivors alike are actively trying to relearn and preserve language. It plays a huge part in our identity and it is to pay respect to our grandparents and relatives who did not have the right to do so. We speak for them, and they speak through us. What the church owes us is an entirely different story for another time — this is not about them.

it’s ok to make mistakes. keep trying.

Language preservation could be encouraged in Indigenous communities in numerous ways. One of the most influential and impactful ways to preserve a language is to have fluent speakers teach and converse with willing learners. Children and young people are the perfect pupils — they absorb as much as they can and they can share their new knowledge with one another, especially up until the age of 12 as they absorb anything and everything. However, learners of all ages are just as susceptible to retaining a new-to-them language, assuming they are determined to learn. If learning from a fluent speaker is unattainable, there are many ways to learn with today’s modern technology and learning resources. Books, apps, online courses, and flash cards or labels in the home could be ways to preserve a language. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been additional ways to learn language on online platforms as well. At this point in time it is also necessary to introduce words that are relevant to today’s society, i.e. Zoom speak (shoutout to Olivia Duncan for this important piece).

These endeavors may be difficult if there is a lack of fluent speakers and other resources, or if there aren’t enough funds to distribute them. However, there are multiple funding resources available within Canada that can be utilized to develop and entertain language preservation methods. These funding opportunities need to be introduced and shared to communities so we are aware of what we can avail of. This is both the responsibility of the government and ourselves. There is always time to reach out and to take action. One of these funding streams should be made available for communities to entertain “train the trainer” programs; training the trainer is to teach fluent or well-spoken speakers how to teach effectively if they would like support in that area. Not all speakers who are fluent are comfortable or supported enough to teach others so this program would help them help us; this could also improve confidence and pride in speakers.

These resources must be easily accessible for Inuit. We need accessibility and relevant learning materials using various types of mediums to ensure that all Inuit are able to avail of them. This includes ensuring that all dialects and written languages are respected in their own right. The roadblocks to language revitalization don’t end there — there are notable stories of low self-confidence, lateral violence, feelings of shame, wariness to speak and to make mistakes, not knowing where to go for support, and simply not having enough time to balance work, life, and intense language learning. This is especially applicable to mothers, single parents, students, and those who are trying their best and still struggling. These circumstances are mostly due to societal factors and are not to be placed on each individual. We also need shared dedicated learning and teaching spaces that are safe, welcoming, and culturally-relevant.

I consider myself fortunate to have learned a lot of what I know from my Inuktitut teachers from kindergarten to high school, and from my nan. One way my self-government of Nunatsiavut works to preserve Inuktitut beyond k-12 is by having an annual master-apprentice program. I value this program because it is a beautiful way to teach Nunatsiavummiut (people from my region) our Nunatsiavut dialect of Inuktitut. I was fortunate to learn from a fluent speaker for five months. I began to naturally replace English with Inuktitut in my speech and I even started dreaming in Inuktitut. If I can learn enough to respond and think in Inuktitut to a great extent in that period of time, I believe that if governments and organizations put more funds into language immersion programs our communities would strengthen.

our roles

We all have a role to play in language preservation and revitalization. Languages that are deemed endangered or threatened are simply “sleeping”; we have the power to reawaken them and give them life again. In the book “If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories?” J. Edward Chamberlain quotes:

Let’s come at this from a different direction. If diversity of languages is analogous to diversity of species, surely different languages should be nourished the way rare species are, by protecting their habitat. Doing this would mean protecting the land and the livelihood of the people who speak such languages. Languages spoken by only a few, like small pieces of land, would be just as precious as large ones; they would be like sacred sites. And while our limited success with all but a few endangered species might make us wonder about the practicality of this approach, isn’t the principle of diversity a good one?

listen to learn

In terms of leadership positions and their importance, it is integral that our culture must be viewed as a right and not a privilege. This includes language. We have the inherent right as Inuit to speak Inuktitut, in whatever dialect we relate to. It is extremely worthwhile for those in leadership positions to thoroughly understand our collective history as Inuit to better understand those they serve and themselves. If you are in a leadership position we expect you to do as much, and to include youth in decision-making processes. Each and every decision you make affects our futures, and we deserve to have a say in what takes shape within our communities, regions, and governments. We reserve the right to vote, to have a platform, and to be respected.

We need our leaders to understand us.

In terms of our own responsibilities, we have the responsibility to seek or educate ourselves regarding our collective history in the North. This could be done by talking with friends, family, community members, etc. by sharing stories and asking questions. Once we understand where we are coming from, we can better understand our current realities.

language learning resources (to my knowledge):

• school boards and their language lessons;
• Tusâlanga; https://tusaalanga.ca/index.php/
• Government resources (NG, Makivik, Government of Nunavut, etc., especially in their language departments);
• Community radio stations and archives;
• Master-apprentice programs;
• Online dictionaries (Labrador Virtual Museum for example);
• Inuttitut Kautamât app (northern Nunatsiavut dialect);
• Fluent speakers;
• Elders;
• Dictionaries; and
• Uvagut TV

I urge you to immerse yourself in Inuktitut: visit elders, listen to your local community radio, listen to amazing Inuit artists, watch Inuktitut TV programs, etc. Use Facebook and TikTok. Use whatever you have access to share and learn our beautiful, beautiful language.

You can do it — we all believe in you. I believe in you.

Sources

(additional sources and citations to be added, as I initially wrote with the knowledge that I had learned over time, and from notes from a presentation Olivia Ikey Duncan and I did for the Inuit Circumpolar Council at the 2022 Inuit Studies Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada):

Chamberlin, J. E. (2006). Babblers. In If this is your land, where are your stories?: Finding common ground. essay, Carcanet.

Leddy, L. (2021). The Power of Indigenous Language Learning. https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.algonquin.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=5546cf36-9a02-46c0-ac77-efb628889b7b%40redis

Taima!