Language retention and revitalization is still key at annual gathering

In its 19^th year, the First Nations Language Keepers Gathering remains one of Saskatchewan’s essential language revitalization events.

Over the course of two days the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre (SICC) will hosted than 500 attendees along with 22 speakers, Knowledge Keepers, and master speakers at its annual conference in Saskatoon. The annual event serves as a cornerstone for the exchange of language strategies, knowledge, and resources.

“This conference is all about celebrating the eight First Nation languages in Saskatchewan,” said Darlene Brander, SICC President. “We’ve heard it time and time again – language revitalization and the preparation, promotion, and protection of First Nations languages is so important because it sets a foundation for culture.”

The theme was ‘our sacred languages walk with us’, focuses on the knowledge and spirit language holds, and meaning in the words that can’t always be translated to English.

“When you speak the language, especially in ceremony, you’re truly connecting with your people and culture,” said Brander.

“I hope people go back to their communities and organizations and start conversations about promotion, protection, and preservation of First Nation language – I hope people are inspired to be innovative in language revitalization,” said Brander.

Young people, particularity those on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, are creating a new and exciting approach to language, said Brander.

One of those young people, who spoke as part of the Learners Panel, is Shay McArthur, a young Nakoda teacher from White Bear First Nations.

McArthur, who was raised in the Nakoda traditions and way of life, said when learning language, there’s an essential component that’s often an afterthought: intention.

“Students who come in often don’t have a clear-set intention of why they want to learn,” said McArthur.

“We have to light that fire, we have to look within ourselves, and ask ourselves, ‘what are our intentions? What are your truths? And what is it that you really want to learn?’”

McArthur believes grounding language learning in a clear, personal intention will encourage perseverance during the regular challenges when learning a new language.

“People often come in and think it’s too hard, they’d rather do something else, they thought it would be easier. And its true, it is hard,” said McArthur.

“There’s a spiritual realm that comes in when you learn language. I think understanding that and connecting with that helps you build that resilience. Because you have to put the time in. People don’t realize how much time you have to put in to become fluent.”

McArthur said their own motivation for learning language came from their grandfather, who taught McArthur that reasons for doing it have to be stronger than the excuses that come along the way.

“Your vision has to be so grand and beautiful that you can’t see anything else,” said McArthur. “There are so few of our Nakoda speakers left, just a handful. We’re extinct in the eyes of everyone else. So for me its really important that we hang on to that fire and spirit that’s in the language.”

The SICC plans to have a second language conference in 2025, likely in November.