Resources

Begin your language learning journey

keewatitaken – going back to the things we left behind. (Cree)

Every voice matters !

Whether you’re an experienced speaker, a new learner, Indigenous, or non-Indigenous. Creating inclusive and supportive spaces for Indigenous languages is essential to nurturing a new generation of speakers

Speak Indigenous Resources offers tools to foster safe and welcoming spaces for all Indigenous language learners and speakers. This includes silent speakers, empowering them to confidently use their languages in every setting. Through posters that provide guidance and meaningful messages, we aim to increase the visibility of Indigenous languages and support ongoing revitalization efforts.

The resources provided are designed to inspire conversations about the value and importance of Indigenous languages. Developed in collaboration with language keepers from Northern Manitoba, these posters reflect the diversity of unique language groups and dialects. They are available for download and can be displayed in any space to promote and encourage the revitalization of Indigenous languages.

In this work, we use the term keewatitaken, going back to the things we left behind. We’re not going back [to recreate and live in a past era]; we’re going back to pick up what we left behind: histories, stories, teachings and language

For Indigenous Peoples

As an Indigenous person or an individual living or working in an Indigenous community, here are some among many ideas to support and promote Indigenous language learning and speaking:

Acknowledge that some people may feel shy and that it is normal to feel shy when learning a new language

If you must laugh—as this part of culture—laugh with the learner, not at the learner

Correct new language speakers in a gentle way and practice words and terms together

Avoid laughing when a new language learner tries to speak

Encourage and support new language learners by sharing a story or some new words

Encourage language learners to learn at their own pace

For Educators

As an educator, here are some among many ideas for making Indigenous language and culture visible

Display artwork

Hang language posters

View language videos

Invite Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and/or Elders to speak to your class

Advocate for Indigenous land-based teachings

Learn to greet your class in an Indigenous language

Get to know your Indigenous students and learn about their cultures and languages

Before introducing any teachings, allow students time to connect with one another for relationship and kinship-building

Use your students’ Indigenous languages in art projects to show support and create a more inclusive space

Learn about smudging and consider integrating into your learning spaces and this may require advocacy and reverting policy

Create a word challenge: encourage students to learn a certain number of words in your class over the term or over the course of an academic year

E-mail colleagues and contacts to let them know you support Indigenous language learners and silent speakers

Refrain from challenging or “testing” fluent speakers to translate contemporary terms or concepts: Indigenous languages can be specific to territory, place, and context, and not all English terms have Indigenous equivalents

Display the Speak Indigenous poster in your classroom, shared spaces and/or on bulletin boards; talk about the initiative and why supporting language learning is important

Plan events that promote community, culture and language-building with students and their families; bring families into the learning spaces

For Non-Indigenous Peoples

As a non-Indigenous ally, here are some among many ways to support and promote Indigenous languages: