First Nations’ Language Loss Almost An “Epidemic”

First Nations’ Language Loss Almost An “Epidemic”

Thursday, December 02, 2010 at 16:53

The president of the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre says the situation facing First Nations languages and youth is almost like an epidemic.

Dorothy Myo spoke this morning at the First Nations Languages Keepers conference in Saskatoon this morning about evaluating young people and languages on two reserves: Beardy’s-Okemasis and Fishing Lake.

She told the delegates that anyone under the age of 25 was not fluent –and in fact understood very few words of their mother tongue, even though they were taught in school.

Myo said it’s because the language wasn’t reinforced at home, adding it only takes one generation to lose a language.

She says the students also don’t get very much time in school learning their languages — twice a week for 30 – 45 minutes in total.

This year’s conference emphasizes passing on the languages to youth in order to preserve and carry on First Nations language and culture.