Indigenous Language Revitalization

Iehnhotonkwas Bonnie Jane Maracle

Every Indigenous community in North America today is suffering from language loss. As a result, an increasing number of language revitalization initiatives are underway, or are being developed by communities across the country to reverse the language shift and to revitalize the heritage language at all age levels. The language revitalization movement being experienced throughout the many communities has provided vital information on basic ideas and best practices for more effective programming for Indigenous languages. The Indigenous people today realize that their languages are so much more than simply a means of communication...it is the very source of their identity and well-being. This workshop will provide the opportunity for those involved in language work to have a glimpse of that information and those experiences in Indigenous language revitalization.