Government of Canada Invests in the Preservation of the Nakoda Language (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Nov 23, 2009 15:46 ET
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Canadian-Heritage-1080937.html

Government of Canada Invests in the Preservation of the Nakoda Language

MORLEY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Nov. 23, 2009) - On behalf of the Honourable
James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Blake
Richards, Member of Parliament (Wild Rose), today announced funding for the
Rocky Mountain Nakoda Centre for Language and Culture Preservation (CLCP) for
their Stoney Nakoda Language Preservation Project.

The funding will enable CLCP to digitize existing archives of previously
recorded interviews with elders and traditionalists of the Stoney Nakoda
Nation. Using a recently developed alphabet that accurately represents the
linguistic sounds of the Nakoda language, CLCP will also transcribe these oral
recordings to an authentic written Nakoda format.

"Aboriginal languages are among the most endangered in the world, and our
Government is committed to working with Aboriginal peoples to preserve and
enhance them," said Minister Moore.

"I am pleased that our Government recognizes the importance of Aboriginal
languages and provides funding to help preserve and promote them," said Mr.
Richards. "This funding will help protect the Nakoda language and help ensure
that it is passed on to future generations."

"Language preservation serves to solidify our existence and identity," said
Peter Wesley, CLCP Coordinator. "This initiative will ultimately serve to
intensify the importance of preservation and maintenance of the Nakoda language
for educational programs and for members of the Stoney Nakoda community."

The Government of Canada has provided $8,826 in funding through the Aboriginal
Languages Initiative (ALI) Innovation Fund
(http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pa-app/pgm/ila-ali/index-eng.cfm). The objective of
this fund is to encourage and support innovative community-based language
projects that use existing technology to promote and preserve First Nations
languages. ALI provides funding to support the preservation and promotion of
Aboriginal languages to increase their use in community and family settings.
The initiative is part of the Department of Canadian Heritage's Aboriginal
Peoples' Program (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pa-app/index-eng.cfm), which
supports the full participation of Aboriginal peoples in Canadian society, and
the promotion, revitalization, and preservation of Aboriginal languages and
cultures. It also helps enable Aboriginal peoples to address the social,
cultural, economic and political issues affecting their lives.

(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca
under Media Room.)