A very fine new-generation cohort or language warriors gathered together with veterans this week in Winnipeg to strategize together about re-invigorating Indigenous Language Revitalization work across the province. It was an honour to be part of a group with so much deep personal commitment to this labour of love, many for forty years or more. The photo above captures final moments of the event (and was taken by Sam Robinson, another new-generation language warrior, now teaching at University of Manitoba).
Among the attendees were Indigenous language speakers, teachers, learners, community leaders, Elders & knowledge keepers, organizations, non-profits & businesses partnering, leading and facilitating language revitalization efforts. The meeting was facilitated by Dr Violet Okemaw – a fluent speaker of Anishinaabemowin from Berens River First Nation now living and teaching in Edmonton, and organized by Dené Sinclair of Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre, and by MICEC team (though the meeting itself was not an MICEC event).
As we look forward to reading the action plans the assembly gathered, one thing that’s especially clear is the value of sharing our collective experiences – everyone has some gift to offer – and how badly we need more gatherings like this one that allow us to lend our strengths to one another! Sincere thanks to everyone involved!
