Indigenous language program in northwestern Ontario threatened by lack of government funding
CBC
Sarah Nelson says she's been trying to reclaim Ojibway for years, which is why she's worried about the potential suspension of an Indigenous language revitalization program in Thunder Bay, Ont., that she's been part of since September.
The program is delivered by Matawa First Nations Management (MFNM), a tribal council that represents eight First Nations in Treaty 9 and one First Nation in Robinson-Superior.
Its language program has been offered in the northwestern Ontario city and several Matawa communities for two years.
"I think my favourite thing is that they use mindfulness as a tool, so meditation at the beginning and the end of the class," said Nelson, a member of Couchiching First Nation who lives in Thunder Bay.
"It really does, I think, have an impact on how you learn."
Earlier this month, MFNM announced a lack of funding from the provincial and federal governments means it may not be possible to keep the program going.
Sharon Nate, Matawa's CEO, says it costs between $2 million and $3 million to operate the program each year.
While languages are a federal responsibility, most of the funding comes from federal and private agencies.
Under the federal Indigenous Languages Act, the government must "support the efforts of Indigenous Peoples to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen their languages," MFNM says.
"The government of Canada must be held accountable for these obligations. We also urgently call on the province of Ontario to recognize its role in advancing reconciliation by stepping forward with tangible investments," Nate said in a news release.
While enough money is left to sustain the program until the end of the school year, Nate said she isn't sure whether it can resume next fall.
The program is called Matawa Waka Tere, which translates to "the meeting of the rivers on a fast-moving canoe." It was inspired by a Maori language revitalization project in New Zealand.
Many of Matawa's fluent language speakers will pass away in the next five to 10 years, the tribal council says, which is why revitalizing Ojibway, Oji-Cree and Cree is a priority for the organization.
Students have been able to take a Year 1 certificate program or Year 2 diploma program, which can then set them on the path toward being able to teach others.
About 100 people gathered outside the Colonial Building in St. John’s on Saturday for an anti-war rally. They were met with some counter-protesters, highlighting different views on the Iran war.
The two candidates hoping to become Quebec's next premier in less than a month took part in a first official sparring match Saturday, with Christine Fréchette accusing her opponent of having a big ego and bringing the debate over shale gas back to the forefront.
Amanda Lathlin, the first First Nations woman to be elected to the legislative assembly in Manitoba's history, has died, the provincial NDP said on Saturday.
Colten Poitras describes Indian relay as an extreme sport.
After more than 48 hours of heavy rainfall, conditions began to ease Saturday morning, but the City of Fernie, B.C., says untreated wastewater is still being released into the Elk River.
An Alberta town reeling from the loss of its rinks has advanced to the final stage of a national competition, with $250,000 on the line.
Members of the new Arctic Canada Tourism Network want to make sure their industry has a voice in conversations about the future of the Arctic.
People continue to flock to Banff National Park.
Two Toronto councillors have brought forward a motion to ban raising foreign flags at Toronto City Hall and civic centres.
Thousands of Maritime Electric customers in multiple communities across Queens County are without power Saturday morning.
Three weeks into the conflict in the Middle East, the joint U.S.-Israel onslaught has killed much of Iran's leadership, knocked out much of its ballistic missile capability, sunk nearly all of its navy and, according to U.S. President Donald Trump, has "militarily WON" the war already.
Sometimes to understand the weather, you have to fly straight into it.
When he was a student at what was then known as the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, Andrew Scott had a professor who regularly said that painting was something that could be done until someone dropped dead, while rock n' roll had a best-before date.