News and Announcements
Posted: August 24, 2010
Master-Apprentice: In Their Own Words
To help create new First Nations language speakers, the First Peoples' Heritage, Language and Culture Council developed the Master-Apprentice Program. Over this three-year program, Elders are paired with committed learners in an immersion environment on the home and land.
At a recent conference, we caught up with some of the Master-Apprentice teams to talk about the program and their experiences with it. Here is the result:
Posted: July 27, 2010
B.C. First Nations and Aboriginal Artists and Arts Organizations Awarded AADA Grants
The First Peoples’ Council is proud to announce that the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards (AADA) program has this year awarded 47 grants totaling $540,000 to Aboriginal and First Nations artists and organizations working in all artistic disciplines across the province.
Click here to read the press release.
Click here to see a list of the 2010 AADA recipients.
Deadlines for the 2011 awards are in October.
Posted: June 17, 2010
Inspiring Stories Focus the Lens on Need to Preserve B.C.’s First Nations Languages
First Peoples' partnered with Knowledge to create Our First Voices, a documentary that celebrates 15 of B.C.’s First Nations languages and pays tribute to the drive to preserve and revitalize all 32 B.C. First Nations languages for future generations.
It premieres at 7:30 pm on June 21 (National Aboriginal Day) on Knowledge in B.C. (repeating June 29 at 10:30 pm)
It will also be available online at Knowledge.ca.
Click here to read the press release.
Click here to see photos from the official launch party.
Posted: April 30, 2010
2010 Report on the Status of B.C. First Nations Languages Released Today
The First Peoples' Council launched a report today that reveals the troubling state of B.C.'s First Nations languages.
The report finds that:
- Fluent First Nations language speakers make up a small and shrinking minority of the B.C. First Nations population
- 8 languages are severely endangered and 22 are nearly extinct
- Most fluent speakers are over 65
- The majority of classroom teaching is insufficient to create enough new fluent speakers to revitalize languages.
Download the full report.
Download the press release.
Posted: April 21, 2010
First Peoples' Hosting an Event to Announce the Release of the 2010 Report on the Status of B.C. First Nations Languages
The event will feature a short presentation on the report's findings and a panel discussion with B.C. language revitalization advocates followed by refreshments and a cultural celebration.
Date and Time: April 30 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Location: LÁU,WELNEW Tribal School Cultural Building, 7449 West Saanich Road (north of Brentwood Bay)
Please RSVP by email to susan@fphlcc.ca as there are only 100 spaces available.
Download the poster for the event here.
Posted: March 19, 2010
New First Nations Language Teaching Tool
FirstVoices.com, an online First Nations language archiving tool administered by the the First Peoples’ Council, has developed a new language learning system that First Nations communities can use to teach their languages.
The FirstVoices Language Tutor allows communities to build intuitive language lessons that mimic the way a child learns a language. Users are able to listen to a word or phrase, record themselves speaking and then compare the result with a recording of a fluent speaker. The online program includes a student tracking system so parents and teachers can monitor student progress through the lessons.
To access the language tutor, go to www.firstvoices.com/tutor.
To read the press release about the launch, click here.
Posted: February 24, 2010
First Peoples' Co-presenting film presentation: "For the Next 7 Generations"
In 2004, thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers from all four corners, moved by their concern for our planet, came together at a historic gathering, where they decided to form an alliance: The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. This is their story.
Documentary showing: Tuesday March 2, 7 and 9 pm at Cinecenta, Student Union Building, University of Victoria
Click here to download the poster.
Posted: February 3, 2010
New Immersion Handbook Available for First Nations Languages
The First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Culture Council has just released Culture Camps for Language Learning: an Immersion Handbook, a new resource to help First Nations communities plan and carry out language and culture immersion camps.
"I think this handbook demonstrates a new approach to language and culture immersion camps,” said Dr. Lorna Williams, Chair of the Board at the First Peoples’ Council. "It puts the focus squarely on learning the language through participating in traditional activities on the land so camp goers will always connect the two.”
Click here to download the press release.
Click here to download a copy of the handbook.
Posted: September 17, 2009
Legislative Amendment Survey Results are in
As you might remember, we are proposing amendments to our governing legislation of 1990 to include the voice of all 32 First Nations language groups in B.C. as intended by the original legislation. We’re also seeking these amendments to help us be more flexible and responsive.
We sought your feedback and released a survey along with an information package discussing our proposed amendments. The surveys have returned, we have gathered the data and are happy to release our report! It is available online (below) and we will be sending it out to those on our email distribution list.
Legislative Amendment Survey Results
To view the documents that went out with the survey and the survey itself, see below:
Posted: July 5, 2009
First Nations Language Map Provides Unique Looks at B.C.
The First Peoples’ Council has launched an online interactive map that will allow British Columbians to explore their province from a First Nations languages perspective.
The language map navigates like Google Maps, but divides B.C. into regions based on the First Nations language spoken there. The map is not only a great representation of First Nations language regions in B.C., but also an essential tool for understanding the status of the 32 First Nations languages and 59 dialects in the province.
Click here to go to the map.
Click here to download the press release.
Posted: May 21, 2009
*New* Resource! Language and Culture Immersion Programs Handbook
The handbook includes tips for language teaching and learning, ideas for language immersion games and activities, as well as suggested language teaching methods and approaches. It is intended to be a practical tool for elders, community members, teachers and anyone else involved in language revitalization, especially language and culture immersion programs.
Click to download
Posted: January 30, 2009
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