The First Nations Language Keepers’ conference begins today in Saskatoon.
The yearly event brings together educators and other representatives who brainstorm ways of keeping several native tongues alive.
Jack Rain is the director of languages at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre, the group hosting the conference.
He says several different methodologies of language preservation will be discussed:
“Well this event provides a forum for educators, leadership and students to share and learn innovative practises that support intergenerational transmission of language.”
In Saskatchewan he says there are three different dialects of Cree spoken along with Denesuline and Nakota, Dakota and Lakota.
He adds a book highlighting a dialect spoken by the Cote and Keeseekoose First Nations will also debut at the conference.