Is Your Community Ready to Put Your Language Revitalization Ideas in Motion?

By Yinhao Fan

Image courtesy of Jason Warick/CBC

What is Language Revitalization?

Language revitalization, which is also referred to as language revival or reversing language shift, is an attempt to halt or reverse the decline of a language or to revive an extinct one (Tsunoda, 2005). Languages targeted for revitalization include those whose use and prominence is severely limited.

In recent years alone, it is estimated that more than 2,000 languages have already become extinct (Endangered Languages, 2014). The UN estimates that more than half of the languages spoken today have fewer than 10,000 speakers and that a quarter have fewer than 1,000 speakers. They warn that unless efforts are made to maintain these languages, most of them will become extinct over the next one hundred years (Endangered Languages, 2014).

Though the goals and attempts to revitalize languages vary from case to case, one over-arching impetus is about identity, specifically defining and claiming identity (Grenoble, 2021). The intention is also about reclaiming rights to self-determination and embracing traditions.

In Canada, Indigenous peoples spoke a wide variety of languages before European settlement. However, colonial policies like the Indian Act and residential school forbade the speaking of Indigenous languages to force assimilation. Residential school students were punished when caught speaking their Indigenous languages, effectively inhibiting these languages from being passed onto future generations. In 2016, Statistics Canada reported that there are only about 500 speakers for each of the 40 Indigenous languages in Canada (Rice, 2022).

Figure 1 Indigenous languages across Canada (Native-Land.ca | Our home on native land)

Why Language Revitalization?

To prevent further loss of Indigenous languages, various Indigenous communities have participated in language revitalization programs run by universities. For example, University of British Columbia developed the First Nations and Endangered Language Program which offers courses in First Nation languages, as well as methodology classes on language documentation, conservation, and revitalization. In February of 2019, the federal government of Canada tabled the Indigenous Language Act to protect Indigenous languages in Canada. The Act received royal assent in July. The Act addresses the Truth and Reconciliation’s Calls to Action (numbers 13, 14 and 15), as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Rice, 2022).

First Peoples’ Cultural Council

At the provincial level, B.C. government established First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) in 1990, a crown corporation responsible for protecting, revitalizing, and enhancing First Peoples’ heritage, language, and culture. As a strong advocate for Indigenous peoples’ rights to live and speak Indigenous languages and practice traditions, the FPCC provides funding, training, resources, and support directly to First Nations in B.C.

Figure 2 Website home page for FPCC

Between 2020 and 2021, 16 Indigenous-led entities were funded under the Language Revitalization Program (LRPP) of FPCC, supporting First Nations communities in B.C. to develop comprehensive, long-term plans for revitalization and strengthening of languages (shown in figure 3 below). Funds were allocated for any necessary expenditure occurred during the planning process such as wages, honoraria, equipment, resources and more.

Figure 3 FPCC LRPP grant recipients 2020-21 (Source: FPCC)

What does ZN Advisory do?

As a social-purpose advisory firm who supports Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations, ZN advisory specializes in operationalizing ideas.  When it comes to language revitalization initiatives, we work with our clients to design a short-, medium-, or long-term plan that serves the Nation’s goal and vision. The plan is implementation-ready and normally contains four action areas:

1)     Use online platforms to virtually share traditional knowledge and teachings in the Indigenous language;

2)     Engage a language speaker to teach and share the language amongst residents;

3)     Create a language database with voice recordings that is accessible to all members; and

4)     Create fun learning activities for youth and children to ensure traditions are passed on using the Indigenous language

In the case of a short-term plan, these tasks would be executed within a 1–2-year timeframe. A language revitalization plan is usually part of a larger nation-building cultural program, acting in conjunction with other cultural components to enhance members’ experience and preserve traditions and culture.

Your Language Revitalization Path

It’s crucial to act quickly and prioritize language revitalization by making implementation-ready action plans. The LRPP administered by FPCC offers First Nations communities up to $100,000 in grant funding to develop a step-by-step language revitalization plan. The planning process is laid out to mimic the natural cycle of seasons (as shown in figure 4 below). A community can develop its distinct revitalization path based on the season that best matches its status and priority.

Figure 4 LRPP seasonal planning cycle (source: FPCC)

Our team members at ZN Advisory is excited to work with communities who are ready to put their language revitalization ideas in motion. We work with you to secure LRPP funding, produce an implementation-ready plan, and get your project operational so you can start seeing and hearing the results.

References

Endangered Languages. Archived from the original on 2014-04-09.

Grenoble, L. A. (2021). Revitalizing Endangered Languages. pp. 9-32.

Rice, K. (2022). Indigenous Language Revitalization in Canada.

Tsunoda, T. (2005). Language Endangerment and Language Revitalization. 169