Metis language project gets off the ground

Page 19

A project called the Manitoba Metis Federation Michif Language Project is now underway. It is a component of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative of the Metis National Council and it is financially supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Aboriginal Language Initiative.

What is the Michif language? It is a language that combines the language of French and Cree. There is Michif-Cree, Michif-French. "La tab" in Michif means table; in French it is written as "la table."

The long term objective of the program is to help revitalize and maintain the Michif language for future generations. The idea is to increase the numbers of Michif language speakers and to expand geographically the areas where the language can be spoken.

The immediate goal for the language project is to conserve, revitalize and document the Michif language. To develop teaching materials and programs at the pre-school levels. To begin Michif adult learning groups with the assistance of identified Metis Elders and volunteers.

Norman Fleury was hired by the Metis National Council in December 1998 as Michif language director. He began to conduct community consultations in 1999 in seven Metis regions within Manitoba. These are Thompson, Winnipeg, Interlake, the Southwest region, the Southeast region, The Pas and the Northwest region.

"I spoke to the people in general meetings. People of the communities, elected officials, youth and Elders. A lot of the people in those areas and communities had realized that the Michif language was becoming a lost art, a lost language," said Fleury. "They did not know how they could bring the language back. In the past, society figured that our language was more of a hindrance. Now the Aboriginal people are starting to realize that all of the Aboriginal languages are very important. They are one of the main parts of our culture because they are the roots of our cultures," he said.

A dictionary is also in the works, which will bring together Metis Elders and Michif speakers. They will put together a format that will be approved by the Elders. Other projects for the Michif language are internet, a web site, a CD-ROM and CDs.

"Once we have the dictionary and the CD ROMs available, they will be available for all people that are interested in the Michif language," said Fleury. "This is a three-year project starting in 1999 and it will end in 2002. That is when the funding will run out, but we cannot see in ending there. I'm very, very enthused, more than enthused, I can see this program going a long ways."

"Everyone is starting to realize that the children and grandchildren have to learn the languages. If they do not learn now, the languages will be totally lost. Also the stories of our Elders in the Michif language and community histories in the language," said Fleury.

"We are preserving our language through interviewing Elders, through the music, the songs, like the old songs. Through the legends that the Elders are telling us. We are translating them all into the Michif language and then we need to translate those back to English, so people can learn them in the both languages. They would be a learning tool in schools. We'd like to eventually have a curriculum built into the school system with those kinds of stories," he said.