Community, children's author combine language preservation efforts (fwd link)

[phil cash cash]

Community, children's author combine language preservation efforts
© Indian Country Today March 05, 2008. All Rights Reserved
Posted: March 05, 2008
by: Shannon Burns / Indian Country Today

GUELPH, Ontario - Children across Canada have grown up with humorous books by
author Robert Munsch. His silly stories, such as ''Smelly Socks,'' ''The Paper
Bag Princess,'' ''Mortimer'' and ''Thomas' Snowsuit,'' are staples in Canadian
libraries, and many of his books have found fame in other countries as well.
''Love You Forever,'' a story about a mother and her son, is a tear-jerker
worldwide.

In the past few years, Munsch has taken an active role in the effort of First
Nations to preserve their aboriginal languages. He has given several First
Nations groups permission to reproduce his stories in their Native language at
no cost.

The Akwesasne Mohawk community first approached the author about translating
''Love You Forever'' several years ago. Margaret Peters, a language curriculum
specialist in Akwesasne, had been introduced to the book when she was a teacher
at a Mohawk immersion school. When she later began working for Akwesasne's board
of education, she looked further into the idea of translating Munsch's book.

Full article link below:
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416713