MORLEY, Alberta, November 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. 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, 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.
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788
deirdra.mccracken@pch.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
