[EDLING:147] Cree at risk of losing language

[Francis M. Hult]

Prince Albert Daily Herald

Cree at risk of losing language 

A Cree elder from the local church community said there is danger his ancestral 
language will be lost in coming generations.

Conrad Bird, who grew up in a residential school, said after years of being 
forced to stop speaking his mother language, he forgot how.
The loss of language also brought a loss of identity for Bird.

“You kind of walk around like an empty shell, not knowing who you are,” he said.

After Bird left residential school by age 15, he took interest in learning 
Cree. Now nearing 40, Bird is able to speak Cree fluently today , something he 
finds rewarding.

Full story
http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=30971&sc=4