TYENDINAGA TERRITORY, ON, Oct. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Daryl Kramp, Member of
Parliament (Prince Edward-Hastings), on behalf of the Honourable Shelly
Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today
announced support for the Tsi Kionhnheht Ne Onkwawenna Language Circle
(TKNOLC) to develop Mohawk language-learning tools.
"Community-based learning initiatives are important, as they contribute
greatly to the preservation and revitalization of Aboriginal
languages," said Mr. Kramp. "With this support, we are helping develop
invaluable learning tools that will benefit Mohawk communities today
and for generations to come."
This investment will allow the TKNOLC to hold two sessions with 12
fluent elders and 20 second-language speakers from seven Mohawk
communities. During the sessions, various cultural topics will be
discussed and recorded, including family roles, health, and wellness.
An audio CD covering idioms, phrases, and frequently used words in the
Mohawk language, as well as a lexicon, will be created from these
recordings. The final product will be distributed to the Mohawk Nation
through schools, libraries, and language programs.
"First Nations, Inuit, and Métis languages are an integral part of our
country's identity, and our Government recognizes their importance for
Aboriginal communities and for all Canadians," said Minister Glover.
"We are pleased to support this initiative that will increase the
knowledge and use of the Mohawk language by community members."
"The lack of mother-tongue speakers of Kanyenke'ha (Mohawk language)
affects our language revitalization initiatives, and this project will
document that part of the spoken language that is only heard when
fluent speakers are engaged in informal communicative situations.
Adequate knowledge and appropriate use of this part of an oral language
is an important indicator of communicative competence. A metaphor is
not simply a figure of speech, but rather it shapes the way we think,
act, and interact," said Callie Hill, Executive Director, TKNOLC. "We
are very grateful for the support from Canadian Heritage to complete
this project, which will support language revitalization efforts across
the Mohawk Nation."
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $43,080 through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) of the Department of Canadian Heritage's Aboriginal Peoples' Program. The objective of ALI is to support community-based language projects
that contribute to the revitalization and preservation of Aboriginal
languages and increase their use in community settings.
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SOURCE Canadian Heritage
