Canada’s New Government Supports Ten First Nations Languages in Alberta

HOBBEMA, Alberta, April 2, 2007 – On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, Blaine Calkins, Member of Parliament (Wetaskiwin), today announced $232,470 in funding for the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Alberta Regional Office to support community-based First Nations language projects in Alberta.

“Canada’s New Government is pleased to support an organization that works on a national level to preserve and promote First Nation, Inuit and Métis languages,” said Minister Oda. “The strength of these languages is important for Canada’s First Nations communities, and they are an important part of Canada’s shared heritage.””Our Government is proud to support the efforts of the AFN Alberta Regional Office to preserve ten First Nations languages,” said Mr. Calkins. “For Aboriginal groups in the regions, these languages, cultures and traditions are an important part of their identity, and they are a part of the rich heritage of all Canadians.”

The AFN Alberta Regional Office works in cooperation with the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, Treaty 7 Management Corporation, and Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta to manage and distribute funds to their respective communities across the province of Alberta.

The ten languages supported through this funding include Cree, Dene, Beaver, Chipewyan, Saulteaux, Nakota, Blackfoot, Kainai, Peikani, and Tsuu T’ina.

Selected projects include language workshops, language classes, teacher training, language documentation, immersion camps, Elders reading programs, and the development of language learning materials.

Canada’s New Government has provided this funding through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative, which forms part of the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Aboriginal Peoples’ Program. This program supports the full participation and cultural revitalization of Aboriginal people in Canadian society, and enables Aboriginal peoples to address the social, cultural, economic and political issues affecting their lives.

The Aboriginal Languages Initiative provides $5 million per year to support the preservation, revitalization and promotion of Aboriginal languages by facilitating the use of these languages in community and family settings.

Information:

Véronique Bruneau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Status of Women
819 997-7788

Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101