Riverton, Manitoba – Department of Canadian Heritage

The Government of Canada is providing $28,828 in funding through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative to support two Ojibway language-learning initiatives for children and community members of all ages.

James Bezan, Member of Parliament (Selkirk–Interlake), made this announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

Quick Facts

• Project activities include a 7-week language day camp for 40 children aged 6 to 12, and 25 weeks of language-learning sessions for more than 20 community members of all ages.
• At the language camp, children will be introduced to Ojibway through language basics such as numbers, animal names, and greetings.
• The language-learning sessions will be developed based on two different levels of Ojibway knowledge, for beginners and intermediate learners.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is committed to the revitalization and preservation of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis languages and cultures, and we continue to support projects that increase the knowledge and use of these languages.”

—The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

“I am pleased that the Riverton and District Friendship Centre has taken on the important role of language transmission. With the support announced today, Ojibway will continue to be seen and heard as a living language, with important benefits for this community.”

— James Bezan, Member of Parliament (Selkirk–Interlake)

“We are so excited to have received funding to continue to provide our Aboriginal Language Initiative to Riverton and surrounding area. This has made a great impact on youth and adults in our area in connecting with their culture. Ojibway will be taught in a multi-generational informal setting again this year. Language is the glue that holds the culture together.”

—Tanis Grimolfson, Executive Director, Riverton and District Friendship Centre

src:news.gc.ca