Technology used to preserve languages

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Representatives of 15 B.C. Aboriginal language groups gathered in Richmond last month for a one-day orientation on language preservation. The Oct. 3 gathering marked a monumental accomplishment for First Voices Language Archives, a project created by the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation (FPCF) aimed at preserving Aboriginal languages through digitization.

After spending the greater part of a year securing funds for the project, FPCF was able to acquire $1.1 million from government and private and public companies, which enabled them to select 15 endangered languages to preserve digitally.

Lori Speck, communications co-ordinator for FPCF, said, "The orientation went really well," adding that First Voices had an online demonstration of language archiving.

Tamara Knott, First Voices project manager, said that the languages were chosen in consultation with the First Peoples' Heritage Language and Culture Council, and that the process of selecting only 15 languages was difficult.

In addition to learning how to preseve language through digitization, Speck pointed to books as another resource, specifically recently published One Green Tree, which teaches colours and numbers in SENCOTEN, the language of the Saanich people. The book was created as a collaboration between FPCF, teachers and students at the LAU,WELNEW Tribal School, and Trafford Publishing, a Victoria on-demand publisher.

Because Trafford had donated resources to publish five language books, four of the languages represented at the orientation conference were randomly picked as the next books. The languages that were chosen were Nuu-cha-nulth (West Coast of Vancouver Island); Halq'emeylem-Sto:lo (Chilliwack area); Halq'emeylem-Musqueam (Vancouver and surrounding area); and Secwepemc (Shushwap-Interior B.C.).

Don Maki, director of language resources at the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council in Cranbrook, knows too well the dilemma that faces Aboriginal languages on the verge of extinction.

"Our language is critically endangered, but I feel very privileged to be able to change the course of the predicted history," said Maki, adding, "The First Peoples' Cultural Foundation has been absolutely wonderful -we work very closely together with the FPCF."

While he noted that each language is unique, he said, "The Ktunaxa are a special case. It's an isolated language. No one else in the world speaks it, and there are only 36 fluent Elders left in the world."

Maki noted that 78 per cent of those Elders are over 60 and in failing health. "We have to create 'virtual Elders' that will be able to carry on the language. Concurrently we need a good curriculum. We only have one chance to do it right." Currently, the Ktunax language is being taught at two band schools and one pre-school on the reserve.

"We've created numerous resources-children's CDs, a digitized alphabet-the only way you're ever going to learn the language is to hear it. You have to be able to see and hear."

The Saanich language team has completed preliminary development of its online archive, which can be seen and heard on the First Voices Web site: www.firstvoices.com.

As funding becomes available, FPCF and First Voices plan to record all 32 of British Columbia's Aboriginal languages.