Harper Government Invests in the Nuyumbalees Society’s Liqwala/Kwak’wala Language Preservation Initiative

Quadra Island, British Columbia, August 20, 2012 – An investment from the Harper Government will help the Nuyumbalees Society preserve and promote the Liqwala/Kwak’wala language. The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament (Vancouver Island North), made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

The funding will allow the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre to create a digital audio-visual library by recording and preserving an estimated 320 hours of elders conversations in the Liqwala/Kwak’wala language. This material will be for use in local schools and in the public programming initiatives of the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre on Quadra Island, British Columbia.

“This year marks the start of the five-year countdown to Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017,” said Minister Moore. “Our Government is proud to invest in projects that contribute to our collective identity. On the road to 2017, let us continue to celebrate all of the things that make Canada the united, prosperous, and free country we are today.”

“The Nuyumbalees Society and the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre are important resources for visitors, students, elders and community members on a daily basis,” said Minister Duncan. “By investing in this project, our Government is ensuring that Canada’s cultural heritage is preserved through the recording of linguistic and cultural traditions of the Liqwala/Kwak’wala, and that Canadians can access it.”

“Thank you to the Government of Canada for funding assistance to record and document the few remaining speakers within our communities of the Liqwala/Kwak’wala language,” said Donald Assu, President of the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre Board of Directors. “This funding comes at a very critical time for our community because of the age of our speakers. These speakers will guarantee the future of our language.”

Founded in1975 by hereditary and elected chiefs of the Kwakwaka’wakw people, the Nuyumbalees Society has been committed to the care and preservation of their Potlatch Collection and to the revitalization of the Kwakwaka’wakw language, culture and traditions through cultural education programs. Nuyumbalees means “The Beginning.” 

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $48,000 through the Aboriginal Heritage component of the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster the preservation of Canada’s cultural heritage, including the preservation of representative collections of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

For more information (media only), please contact:

Sébastien Gariépy
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Official Languages
819-997-7788

Media Relations 
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca

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