New Program Uses Internet to Teach Speaking Skills

[Rolland Nadjiwon]

Apologies but I was not aware there is a First Nations language. I have 
no idea how that could happen. Please post more information. I have been 
involved with language and education for some time now and have never 
heard of this project before this. It seems an insurmountable task to 
unify the First Nations Languages into one First Nations language. I am 
aware of the great effort with Esperanza and Spain nationalizing 
Castillion as has been done in other countries with other 
languages...English and French in Canada.  Almost forty years ago we 
started the Ojibway Language Project to look at various ways of 
intercommunication between communities in Anishnabehmowin. The diversity 
withing the Anishnabeh speaking peoples was at such dialectic variation, 
the project was never completed. Linguists tried much the same as 
Esperenza but that could not work.

My suggestion, at the time, was to not come up with a standardization 
but to work and expand on what was already in use. Western Ontario and 
the Northwest already communicated with their own system of writing 
phonetically and syllabics. The whole Mushkegoo area of the North had a 
system in place also, and still do. If all those communities are already 
communicating orally and graphically, what is the need for a system that 
will subvert existing systems. The project did not last very long and 
that part made a lot of sense.

Anyhow...just some thoughts on linguistic standardizations....

-------
wahjeh
rolland nadjiwon



Cathy Wheaton wrote:
> Saskatchewan First Nations Language Speaking Project
>                             www.allanadam.com	 
>
>
> Saskatchewan First Nations Language Speaking Project
>
> Vision
> To enable individuals, families, organizations and communities to increase 
> speaking ability of First Nation languages in Saskatchewan.   
>
> Goal
> To develop a method for First Nation language learners to speak a base 
> vocabulary so they can converse with fluent speakers and work towards 
> gaining oral fluency
>
> Principles
> •	No cost to learn, resources are free 
> •	Accessible to everyone
> •	Community driven by volunteers
> •	Oral fluency is most valued
> •	Minimal resources required to run programs 
> •	Enables Elders to pass knowledge directly to learners
> •	Focus on learning whole phrases versus grammar and word lists
> •	Takes advantage of digital technology and internet
>
> Tools
> 1.	First Nations Language Speaking Circle 
> 2.	First Nations Language Online Speaking Lessons
> 3.	First Nations Language Audio Lessons
>
> First Nations Language Speaking Circle – The tool to link fluent speakers 
> to learners in one room
> In April 2009, the Regina First Nations Language Speaking Circle began. 
> This group began with a group of interested fluent speakers and interested 
> language learners who met once a week for an hour and a half to learn to 
> speak a First Nations language. This group continues to meet and will run 
> sessions until June 16, 2009 and reconvene in the fall of 2009. It is 
> hoped that other speaking circles will form in Regina and other 
> communities. 
>
> First Nations Language Online Speaking Lessons – The tool to link fluent 
> speakers to learners globally
> Shortly after the Regina First Nations Language Speaking Circle began to 
> meet, the lessons taught at each session were recorded using a digital 
> recorder and uploaded to a website for learners to practice. This allows 
> learners who do not know a fluent speaker to continue to practice speaking 
> daily which is the most effective way of learning. So far there are 192 
> files online as May 26, 2009. By the end of the project, there will be 
> approximately 500 phrases total in 9 language categories on this website. 
> We already have lessons in Woods Cree, Plains Cree, Nakota, Saulteaux, 
> Dene, and will be adding Ojibway and Dakota soon. 
>
> First Nations Language Audio Lessons – For learners without high speed 
> internet access
>
> For communities and individuals with no to high speed internet, the video 
> lessons are inaccessible. We are now working on different way to the 
> digital audio files with others. We have recently added these files to the 
> web site so people can download them to make their own CD’s. We are hoping 
> that communities will create and share copies of these files with others. 
>
> The Coordinators
> This project is a personal project for Allan Adam and Cathy Wheaton. Allan 
> Adam is a fluent Dene speaker, interpreter/translator and instructor 
> originally from Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation. Cathy Wheaton is 
> Woodlands Cree from La Ronge Indian Band but wishes to become a fluent 
> speaker like most of her family. Allan and Cathy have spent hundreds of 
> hours January 2009 working on this project. It was initially not 
> anticipated to be this large but it grew very quickly!  
>
> Thank You!
> We have many friends who have shared with this project in the last couple 
> of months. We are so grateful to the Elders who spent time with us: our 
> Nakota Elders: Fred Spyglass of Mosquito First Nation and Wilma Kennedy of 
> Carry the Kettle. Our fluent speakers were Bill Cook, Bernie Cook, Guy 
> Albert, Reg and Marlene Bugler, Darren Okemaysim, Doreen Oakes, Allan 
> Adam, Natalie Owl, Alice Taysap and many others who attended our weekly 
> Speaking Circles. Jessica Generoux who works at the Albert Library offered 
> free space and program promotion for the Speaking Circle. Allan Adam 
> donated web site space on his web site for this project. He also records 
> the audio files with Elders and fluent speakers, edits and creates the 
> online videos. Cathy Wheaton compiles the common phrase lists for 
> interviews, organizes the web site content, finds external links, writes 
> the materials, coordinates the speaking circles and uploads files to 
> Youtube. Together we travel to communities to interview and meet Elders on 
> our own expense in our spare time. We encourage others with similar 
> interests to do the same! 
>
>
> Contact:
>
>  
> Allan Adam
> (306) 960-5192
> (306) 924-4177
> allan.adam at sasktel.net
>
> Cathy Wheaton
> (306) 924-4177
> (306) 527-5890
> chimiskwew at hotmail.com
>  
>
>