Government of Canada Supports Aboriginal Languages Through Production of Animated Videos in Atikamekw and Innu (fwd)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

Government of Canada Supports Aboriginal Languages Through Production of
Animated Videos in Atikamekw and Innu

http://www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/infoCntr/cdm-mc/index-eng.cfm?action=doc&DocIDCd=CR101886

WENDAKE, Quebec, January 25, 2011 - The Société de communication
Atikamekw-Montagnais (SOCAM) will receive funding from the Government of
Canada. The announcement was made by the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister
of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council for
Canada, Minister for La Francophonie, and Member of Parliament
(Louis-Saint-Laurent), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of
Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

The funding will enable SOCAM to create four animated children's videos
telling the adventures of Tshakapesh, a mythical character well-known in
Atikamekw-Montagnais communities. The educational videos will be produced in
Atikamekw and Innu, and will be used as platforms to introduce viewers to
vocabulary used in science and technology. The communities will have access
to the videos through the SOCAM website, and DVD copies will be distributed
to the different elementary schools in Atikamekw and Innu communities.

"The vitality of Aboriginal languages is closely associated with language
initiatives that specifically meet the needs of Aboriginal people," said
Minister Moore. "By supporting such projects, the Government of Canada is
reaffirming its commitment to preserving and revitalizing Aboriginal
languages and cultures."

"These animated videos are an innovative tool for passing on the Atikamekw
and Innu languages to children in Quebec Aboriginal communities," added
Minister Verner. "Through its funding, the Government of Canada is
supporting SOCAM's efforts to preserve these two languages for the long
term."

"We are happy that we can follow up on the adventures of Tshakapesh. The
first series of educational videos was received quite enthusiastically, and
we will try to ensure that the second is even more successful," explained
Bernard Hervieux, Executive Director of SOCAM. "This project allows us not
only to promote our language, but also to demonstrate that our language,
like our culture, can be adapted to today's world."

The Government of Canada has provided $49,610 to SOCAM. This is in addition
to the $49,299 in funding that the organization received earlier in
2009-2010 for its initial production of animated videos. The support has
been provided under the Aboriginal Languages Initiative, which is part of
the Aboriginal Peoples' Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The
objective of the Initiative is to preserve and revitalize Aboriginal
languages for the benefit of future generations of Aboriginal people and
other Canadians.

For more information (media only), please contact:


Codie Taylor
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Official Languages
819-997-7788

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media at pch.gc.ca
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