The Government of Canada Supports Aboriginal Languages (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

The Government of Canada Supports Aboriginal Languages in New Brunswick and
Prince Edward Island

Press Release
http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=379689&categoryid=7&category=Regional+News

WOODSTOCK, New Brunswick, February 19, 2008 - On behalf of the Honourable Josée
Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages,
Mike Allen, Member of Parliament (Tobique-Mactaquac), today announced funding
for the Assembly of First Nations Regional Office for New Brunswick and PEI.

Funding of $737,613 will allow the organization to support a range of activities
in the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet languages over a three-year period. Activities will
include language classes and workshops, immersion camps, teacher training,
curriculum development, language documentation, development of language
resource materials, and documentary filmmaking.

"The Government of Canada is pleased to provide this funding as part of its
support for Aboriginal language preservation," said Minister Verner. "Providing
tools and materials for the preservation and teaching of First Nations languages
will help safeguard an important part of Canada's heritage."

"Languages play an important role in community and culture," said Mr. Allen.
"These funds will help the Assembly of First Nations Regional Office for New
Brunswick and PEI undertake important work to document, promote, and provide
learning opportunities for the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet languages."

"This money, made available from Canadian Heritage, is giving us the opportunity
to get the materials we need to work with," said Regional Chief Len Tomah. "It
will allow the elders to spend time with our youth and children to teach them
about their language and culture and pass down valuable knowledge that will
live on forever from one generation to another."

The Government of Canada has provided this funding under the Aboriginal
Languages Initiative of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This initiative
maintains and revitalizes Aboriginal languages for future generations by
increasing the number of Aboriginal language speakers, encouraging language
transmission from generation to generation, and expanding the use of Aboriginal
languages in family and community settings.
Information:

Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official
Languages
819 997-7788

Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101