Speaking our Mother's Language

Tobi Mitchell. Cynthia Lazore. Cheavie William
October 20, 2011
Akwesasne

"I think I'm lucky, my mother taught me the language."

Cynthia Lazore, Cheavie William, Mohawk

It took only a few decades for many Indigenous languages to lose their vitality. Assimilating measures, residential schools, intermixing and urbanization have contributed to restraining the use and transmission of this fundamental element of First Nation cultures. But this can change. More and more communities are devoting their energies to overcome this challenge: adult courses, youth activities, intensive learning in immersion schools, etc. Language is a fragile richness that must be shared with as many people as possible in order to preserve it.