Stolen Words by Melanie Florence is a book that addresses the loss of language and culture students faced in residential school. A grandfather tells his grand daughter about when he was forced to learn English and was not allowed to speak Cree.
Children in residential schools were told that their culture and their language was wrong. Indigenous children were made to feel ashamed of their culture and language. Children were severely punished for speaking their traditional language and as a result entire generations of Indigenous people did not speak the languages their ancestors spoke before colonization.
Many Indigenous people are working hard to learn their language. Many schools on First Nations and in public school boards are taking steps to revitalize and strengthen the knowledge of their traditional languages.
What’s next?
Find out what Nation calls where your school is situated their traditional territory. See if you can learn to say “hello” and “thank you” in their language.
Invite someone from a neighbouring First Nation to come and teach your class some words in their traditional language.
Make a video of your kids teaching others to say a few words in an Indigenous language, share it and use the hashtags #engagelk #indigedLK.
Miigwech! Thank-you!
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