Indigenous language is an important part of Angela JamesSA国际影视传媒� life. She is the director of the Indigenous Languages Initiative with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and worked to create a scholarship program that helps keep Indigenous languages alive.
She talks about her language learning passion and her special connection to an Indigenous language.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 an educator as well as a scholar and a researcher, and also an elder,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 have been in the Northwest Territories for over 40 years and have always had a very strong passion for languages.SA国际影视传媒�
She said that marrying her husband, a native speaker of the Dene Suline language, previously known as Chipewyan, was an important part of her language learning journey.
She and her husband practice speaking Dene Suline together on a daily basis.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen youSA国际影视传媒檙e learning a language, you always have to make sure that you share it and that you that you practice it,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲henever ISA国际影视传媒檓 invited to do a presentation, I lead with the language, meaning that I introduce myself with about 30 seconds to a minute in Dene Suline language.
SA国际影视传媒淚 walk my talk, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 where my passion comes from.SA国际影视传媒�
She also spoke about one of her biggest inspirations, her mother-in-law and well-known Dene Suline elder, Doris McQueen.
SA国际影视传媒淢y mother-in-law and I were very, very good friends,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think I got a lot of the base of the language from her.
SA国际影视传媒淚 know she would have wanted the language to continue with myself, her son and our daughter as well.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to keep the language alive in our family.SA国际影视传媒�
Scholarship boom year
James said the purpose of the Indigenous Languages Revitalization (ILR) Scholarship is to provide financial support for individuals who share a passion for Indigenous languages.
The scholarship programs offers $5,000 in funding for ten applicants a year but James said they wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 let that stop them from giving to more applicants if theySA国际影视传媒檙e able.
SA国际影视传媒淭his year we awarded 18 Indigenous Languages Revitalization Scholarship,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a boom year for the scholarships this year and weSA国际影视传媒檙e very proud of it.SA国际影视传媒�
She explained why she believes there was an influx of applicants last year.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Northwest Territories is very cognizant and aware of the ILR movement and momentum thatSA国际影视传媒檚 happening to strengthen, revitalize and promote indigenous languages, not only in the Northwest Territories but across Canada and the whole world.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲ith that higher profile of the importance of revitalizing indigenous languages, ISA国际影视传媒檇 like to say that thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why we got more applicants.SA国际影视传媒�
People interested in the scholarship should visit the Education, Culture and Employment . The deadline for applicants is Dec. 1.
