Our First Voices

 THE LANGUAGES LOCATION
 Halq’eméylem  Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley
 Heiltsuk  Central Coast (Bella Bella)
 Ktunaxa  Kootenay Region
 Nak’azdli Dakelh  Central Interior
 Nisg̱a’a  North Coast (Nass River)
 nłeʔkepmxcin  Thompson/Okanagan
 Nuučaan̓uɫ  Vancouver Island (West Coast)
 Secwepemctsin  Thompson/Okanagan
 SENĆOŦEN  South Coast (Saanich)
 Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim  Lower Mainland (Squamish)
 St̓át̓imcets  Thompson/Okanagan
 Tsilhqot’in  Interior (Chilcotin)
 X̱aada Kil  North Coast (Haida Gwaii)

Questions to think about while watching Our First Voices:

  • What role does language play in culture?
  • Given the dominance of the English language around the world, how can other languages be maintained?
  • How does language evolve?  How are new words created?
  • What is the relationship between language and identity?

FURTHER READING:
Canada.  Natural Resources.  2010.  The Atlas of Canada: Aboriginal Languages by Community, 1996.  6th Edition.  http://geogratis.gc.ca/api/en/nrcan-rncan/ess-sst/e4f3870f-8893-11e0-a56a-6cf049291510.html, accessed January 22, 2015.

First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Culture Council (FPHLCC).  2012.  First People’s of BC Language Map.  http://maps.fphlcc.ca/, accessed August 13, 2012.

First Peoples’ Cultural Council.  2011.  First Voices: Language Legacies Celebrating Indigenous Cultures.  http://www.firstvoices.com/, accessed August 13, 2012.

Norris, Mary Jane.  2009.  Aboriginal Languages in Canada: Emerging Trends and Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition.  Canadian Social Trends No. 83.  Catalogue No. 11-008.  Ottawa: Statistics Canada.  http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2007001/pdf/9628-eng.pdf, accessed August 13, 2012.

Statistics Canada.  2022.  Table 98-10-0270-01  Knowledge of Indigenous languages by single and multiple knowledge of languages responses, Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories.  DOI:https://doi.org/10.25318/9810027001-eng, accessed January 1, 2023.

NOTE:  This documentary can be viewed on the Knowledge Network (registration is free), https://www.knowledge.ca/program/our-first-voices/our-first-voices 

Created 2012-08-13; last updated 2023-01-01