Funding for Michif promotion

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The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan (MNS) is on the receiving end of $175,000 in federal funding, to be used to help the organization in its efforts to preserve and promote the Michif language.

The money, coming from Canadian Heritage's Aboriginal Languages Initiative, will be used to help fund the "Moving the Michif Language Into the Future project, as well to allow the MNS to continue developing Michif language curriculum, teaching aids, and other educational support materials.

A portion of the funds will also be used to help fund the second International Michif Language Conference, which will be held April 11 to 13 at the Radisson Hotel in Saskatoon. The purpose of the conference is to stimulate discussion on ways to preserve the language, and to provide a forum where people working on Michif promotion and preservation can get together and co-ordinate their efforts. The first International Michif Language Conference was held in April 2002 in Winnipeg, and was hosted by the Manitoba Metis Federation.