'It hit me like a ton of bricks': First Nation woman teaching youth endangered language
A First Nation council member is looking to children and young adults to carry on a language that has fewer than 20 fluent speakers.
Onyota'aka is traditionally spoken by people living in Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. After generations of residential schools grooming the language out, the language has very few speakers.
Chippewas of the Thames First Nation Councillor Ursula Doxtator, a speaker of Onyota'aka, says she knows the importance of preserving the language her ancestors spoke. It wasn't until she was in college that she realized the importance keeping the language alive.
"It him me like a ton of bricks, 'Oh my goodness – what are we going to do, what am I going to do, what can we do.”
Doxtator learned to speak it herself, and today she advocates for more resources and access to speakers.
"There are a lot of efforts being put in to try to revitalize the language. We have programming down here from daycare/early years, all the way to now. It's being offered now all the way to college level."
Doxtator says the importance of funding is crucial to ensure the people are able to take the time to learn their language.
For knowledge Keeper Ray John Jr., language includes ceremonial practices.
"We hear the birds, and then all of a sudden there is this gigantic opening where the sun comes up, when we greet the day, we know that is our way of saying thank you.”
A culture advisor, John says he is working towards changing the views that are currently in place about Indigenous people
"We have to acknowledge how we got here – and that is all stemming from our language. And that one part's disappearance is like losing a limb, we can't retrieve that.”
John says he'd like to see his people’s existence prevail, and to do that they must continue their traditions daily.
"Language is so much more. There is a spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical part of it.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.