Feds Announce Funds For National Michif Conference

Feds Announce Funds For National Michif Conference

Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 14:05

Saskatchewan’s Michif language received a financial boost today.

Conservative MP Carol Skelton was in Saskatoon to announce that the federal government is providing $60,000 to the Gabriel Dumont Institute to host the 7th National Michif Language Conference.

The Tories have been criticized for re-allocating millions of dollars the previous Liberal government committed to Aboriginal language initiatives — but Skelton says the Conservative government is committed to preserving Aboriginal languages.

Elders and Michif speakers attending this morning’s event praised the announcement, because they say the language is disappearing.

GDI says there are likely fewer than 1,000 fluent Michif speakers left in all of Canada.

The National Michif Language Conference will be held in Saskatoon from March 13th to 15th.