Member of Parliament Robert Sopuck Announces Support for Aboriginal Languages in Dauphin

DAUPHIN, Manitoba, June 24, 2013 – Robert Sopuck, Member of Parliament (Dauphin–Swan River–Marquette), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced support for the Dauphin Friendship Centre for its Ojibway and Michif language classes.

“Teaching Aboriginal languages is central to their preservation and revitalization,” said Mr. Sopuck. “With the support announced today, we are helping bring Ojibway and Michif back into our communities, which will benefit them today and for many generations to come.”

This investment will allow the Dauphin Friendship Centre to expand its current language instruction program and provide 463 hours of interactive language instruction to a total of 163 people. This will be done through Ojibway and Michif language classes, an afterschool Ojibway language program for youth, an Ojibway basics language course for young children, evening Ojibway classes in Winnipegosis, Manitoba, and three one-day sessions out on the land where learning will be done through cultural activities.

“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 Moore. “We are pleased to support community-led projects that increase the knowledge and use of these languages.”

“We wish to thank the Government of Canada for its support for our project. It will help the Ojibway and Michif languages to be seen and heard within our communities,” said Jeremy Smith, Executive Director of the Dauphin Friendship Centre. “We are very pleased to build on the language instruction we are already offering, and we expect that an increase in the use of these languages will help them spread and flourish.”

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $41,516 through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) of the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Aboriginal Peoples’ Program. The objective of ALI is to encourage and support community-based language projects that contribute to the revitalization and preservation of Aboriginal languages and increase their use in community settings.

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

NT5