Feb 22, 2022 | International
JOINT statement marking the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032)
This statement will also be available in the following languages:
Denesuline
Innu-Aimun
Inuktitut (North Baffin)
Inuktuk (Qaliujaaqpait)
Mi’kmaq
Michif Cree
Michif French
Oji-Cree
Plains Cree
Western Ojibway
OTTAWA, February 21, 2022
Today, on International Mother Language Day, the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, National Chief RoseAnne Archibald of the Assembly of First Nations, President Natan Obed of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and President Cassidy Caron of the Métis National Council unite their voices to mark the beginning of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a key outcome of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages.
In addition, the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, Dr. Ronald E. Ignace, is pleased to underscore the importance of the Decade bringing focus and awareness to Indigenous languages and Indigenous language rights.
The aim of the Decade is to draw global attention to the loss and current risks to Indigenous languages, and to mobilize stakeholders and resources for the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and promote them.
Indigenous languages are at the heart of First Nations, Inuit and Métis culture, identity and self-determination. They are used to share our history through storytelling, to connect with the natural environment and to create familial bonds.
As part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, we recognize that the many Indigenous languages passed down from one generation to the next are each a thread in Canada’s rich cultural tapestry. Indigenous languages must be well cared for to keep this tapestry vibrant and varied.
As they are traditionally transmitted orally from Elders to youth, languages are a pillar in their respective communities, yet they are fragile. While they hold immense value and knowledge, they are at increasing risk of being lost to history. Three-quarters are in fact endangered. We have a collective role to play in supporting Indigenous peoples in revitalizing their languages. The Government of Canada continues to work with national Indigenous organizations to implement legislation designed to help revitalize, maintain and strengthen First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages, including through the Indigenous Languages Act and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, as well as through the first appointments to the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages.
The work of the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages will also be important in, among other things, helping to promote Indigenous languages and supporting Indigenous peoples in achieving their language revitalization goals.
But we need to do more.
Throughout this Decade, we will collaborate to share their stories, and support events and activities that highlight the important role of Indigenous languages in Canada and the work underway to revitalize and maintain them. Our goal is to plan for the Decade and create a legacy we can leave for our children and for our children’s children. They are the ones who will keep Indigenous languages alive.
Join us in honouring, promoting and celebrating the cultural richness of all Indigenous languages in Canada and around the globe.
“For each of us, our language is central to our identity, community and culture. Language is essential in how we share our stories and our history, and how we connect with one another. That is why Canada is proud to support Indigenous language revitalization. We will mark the International Decade of Indigenous Languages by accelerating the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act in a co-developed and cooperative manner with Indigenous partners. We must support First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in their efforts to revitalize their languages and build the next generations of speakers of Indigenous languages.”
—The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage
“The Canadian government and numerous religions, particularly the Catholic church spent, by today’s standards, billions of dollars destroying First Nations languages and cultures. In the Decade ahead, I look forward to their re-investment and support as we undo the damage that they have done. The first step is a fully funded Indigenous Languages Act. Today and throughout the Decade ahead, we can walk the healing path forward as we lift up Language Champions and every single First Nation person re-learning to speak their language.”
—National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Assembly of First Nations
“As Inuit, our language is a foundation of our culture and identity. As we embark on this International Decade of Indigenous Languages, we reflect on the resilience of Inuktut, which remains among the strongest Indigenous languages in Canada. Inuit have experienced significant language loss, however, and the task of protecting Inuktut can’t be ours alone. Our hope is that the next ten years will bring renewed support and revitalization efforts to help Inuktut become a dominant language in Inuit workplaces, schools and homes.”
—Natan Obed, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
“Colonization has led to the near eradication of the Michif language, and, because language, culture and identity are inextricably linked, has had a devastating impact on Métis identity. The United Nations Decade of Indigenous Languages gives us an opportunity to highlight the work that our Michif speakers and Métis Governments are doing to reclaim and revitalize the use of Michif in our communities.”
—Cassidy Caron, President, Métis National Council
Laura Scaffidi
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
laura.scaffidi@pch.gc.ca
Jan 24, 2022 | International
Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and all LGBTQQIA+ Indigenous people have the right to be safe and have every opportunity to fully participate in the economic, social, and cultural life. The Government of Canada continues to support Indigenous communities to advance reconciliation and achieve equity for all Indigenous peoples.
January 21, 2022 – Ottawa, ON – Women and Gender Equality Canada
Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and all LGBTQQIA+ Indigenous people have the right to be safe and have every opportunity to fully participate in the economic, social, and cultural life. The Government of Canada continues to support Indigenous communities to advance reconciliation and achieve equity for all Indigenous peoples.
Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced over $14 million to fund 34 projects that will support Indigenous women by improving economic participation, increasing leadership in various sectors, and preventing and eliminating gender-based violence. While enhancing reconciliation and distinction-based approaches for Indigenous women and girls, these projects will address the intersectional barriers to equality that many communities face.
Minister Ien also met with two community organizations fostering learning and empowering Indigenous people.
Trent University’s First Peoples House of Learning discussed their project to create an Indigenous women-led interactive and experiential training model. The project will also raise awareness of the many ways in which unconscious bias makes Indigenous women more vulnerable to gender-based violence. The organization received over $491,000 in funding.
The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association discussed capacity building for its network of Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs). The network will advance gender equality and address barriers to entrepreneurship for Indigenous women by offering training. It will also launch a national campaign to increase the representation of many Indigenous women entrepreneurs and raise awareness of the barriers they face. The organization received $560,000 in funding.
“We cannot achieve true and lasting gender equality without ensuring the safety of diverse Indigenous peoples. Throughout the pandemic, community organizations saw an increased demand for support, and many workers acted to fulfill the community’s needs. The Government of Canada understands the impact and importance of these critical services and is committed to supporting the important work of Indigenous organizations across the country. Investing in these projects will address systemic issues and move us forward on the path to reconciliation.”
The Honourable Marci Ien, P.C., M.P., Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
“Trent University is proud to be taking an active role in ensuring Canada is a safe and supportive place for all women. With the support of Women and Gender Equality Canada, our new training program will share diverse perspectives and empower Indigenous women and girls across Canada.”
Dr. Leo Groarke, President, Trent University
“Support for Indigenous women entrepreneurs through WAGE’s programs is welcomed and needed more than ever given the disproportionate effects the pandemic and its ongoing response have had on an already marginalized group. By inspiring young women and girls in Indigenous communities to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career path and breaking down the barriers they face in accessing capital and other supports, we will advance not only the economic security and prosperity of Indigenous women, their families, and their communities, but recognize and empower the important role they can and must play in Canada’s economic recovery.”
Magnolia Perron, Indigenous Women and Youth Team Lead, National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association
Johise Namwira
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
873-353-0985
Johise.Namwira@cfc-swc.gc.ca
Nov 23, 2021 | International
The Minister of Indigenous Services announced today that Indigenous Services Canada has received and approved a funding request through the Emergency Management Assistance Program for $4.4 million in additional funding to the British Columbia First Nations’ Emergency Services Society.
November 22, 2021 — Ottawa, Traditional Algonquin Territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada
The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that First Nations affected by recent flooding in British Columbia are safe and secure, that a coordinated emergency management response is supported, and that communities are positioned for a strong recovery.
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced that Indigenous Services Canada has received and approved a funding request through the Emergency Management Assistance Program for $4.4 million in additional funding to the British Columbia First Nations’ Emergency Services Society. Funds will be used to support the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society as they assist First Nations in their response to the widespread flooding caused by the recent atmospheric river event.
Additionally, the Government of Canada will provide $330,000 to the First Nations Leadership Council, to be divided equally among its member organizations (i.e., the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs) to address immediate response needs in the wake of this ongoing emergency.
Indigenous Services Canada will continue to work in close partnership with impacted First Nations in British Columbia, provincial partners and federal departments, including the Department of National Defence and the Department of Emergency Preparedness. The safety and security of First Nations is the top priority of Indigenous Services Canada and we stand ready to provide further resources as needed.
“Our thoughts are with the communities affected by the recent flooding events in British Columbia. The loss of life, homes, infrastructure, property, and livelihoods, as well as the ongoing disruption to people’s lives is devastating. The Government of Canada is working with partners like the First Nations Leadership Council and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia, to support their work in helping First Nations people stay safe and be there for communities as they recover from this difficult situation.”
The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Indigenous Services
“We are thinking of all those affected by the flooding in British Columbia, and we grieve with those have lost loved ones in this devastation. The Government of Canada is providing assistance to the province of British Columbia and First Nations currently facing the threat of significant and widespread flooding. Canadians can be assured that all levels of government are working together to deliver the required help. On behalf of all Canadians, I thank all first responders and CAF members working tirelessly to support Canadians in need.”
The Honourable Bill Blair
President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness
In emergency situations in British Columbia, First Nations governments and Emergency Management British Columbia play a lead role in assessing the immediate needs of First Nation community members on reserve and determining the appropriate course of action, including on-the-ground support, and transportation needs.
The Government of Canada partners with the First Nations Leadership Council, the First Nations Health Authority, the First Nations Emergency Services Society and First Nations leadership, working in concert with Emergency Management British Columbia, to ensure that First Nations have the information and resources they need to keep their community members safe and supported.
A Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on emergency management services with the First Nations Leadership Council, the Province of British Columbia and ISC also sets the stage for a trilateral approach. These agreements underpin ongoing discussions among partners on how to better support First Nations during emergencies and include the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia in emergency response platforms.
In British Columbia, ISC has a service agreement with Emergency Management British Columbia to provide emergency management services on reserves similar to those available to other B.C. communities. The department reimburses First Nations, as well as provinces, territories and authorized third-party emergency service providers, 100% of eligible response and recovery costs, including evacuation costs.
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Oct 12, 2021 | Books, Business
1 of 8 Shows @ New Roots Theatre Fest in SF
SAN FRANCISCO – Oct. 11, 2021 – PRLog — BEYOND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY SFBATCO PRESENTS INAUGURAL
TWO-DAY “NEW ROOTS THEATRE FESTIVAL” OCTOBER 16 & 17 GIVING VOICE TO LEGACY & EMERGING BIPOC ART
A significant end to the week encompassing “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” is the beginning of something new, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company’s (SFBATCO) two-day BIPOC themed “New Roots Theatre Festival.” Presented at Brava Theater Center in the historic Mission District, October 16-17, 2021, it will consist of eight performances for theatre audiences to enjoy in adherence to San Francisco’s Coronavirus safety protocols.
With theater venues shut down world-wide for more than a year due to the deadly pandemic, SFBATCO co-founders Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. and Marcelo Javier have mounted a lively creative comeback. The New Roots Theatre Festival invites legacy theatre organizations and emerging artists to give voice to BIPOC creativity, bringing to life resilience, joy, diversity and stories with BIPOC POVs that are relatable to everyone.
“The whole world is a stage, but for more than a year the world of theater has been shuttered. It’s great to work in unity with these amazing arts organizations to give voice to the stories of communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic,” said Marcelo Javier.” The two-day festival serves as a multicultural performing arts incubator amplifying artists in the Bay Area that the world is invited to see and hear the voices of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).”
The projects representing the “new” in ‘New Roots Theatre Festival’ is first and foremost the festival itself along with Jamie Zimmer, Joanna Haigood and Laura Elaine mounting Sign My Name to Freedom: The Unheard Songs of Betty Reid Soskin (The Oldest Living National Park Ranger turned 100 on September 22, 2021 (https://conta.cc/3kA9QJE)); SFBATCO South Asian American playwright Aidaa Peerzada’s “Shining,” a reimagined Afro-futurist take on the Greek myth of Phaeton, and SFBATCO’s own Othello Jefferson, Jamie Yuen-Shore, and Christine Chung and the revival of “I,Too, Sing America.”
The “roots” of the festival are represented by performances from the Cuicacalli Ballet Folklórico that infuses Indigenous, Folkloric, and Contemporary dance styles; The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre; AfroSolo; PUSH Dance; and the African-American Shakespeare Company. And the “roots” of the festival, also have new works such as The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre’s “In the Evening by the Moonlight” written by the theatre’s Artistic Director Margo Hall and Chicago-based writer Traci Tolmaire. It is about civil rights activists and artists Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, and Nina Simone, who were friends.
“It is a thrill to bring together so many talented actors and arts organizations under one roof at the Brava Theater Center in our diverse and historic Mission District of San Francisco,” said Rodney Earl Jackson Jr., co-founder of SFBATCO. “The New Roots Festival is the perfect exclamation point for our company that began seven years ago in September 2014. This collaboration is kind of like our country’s motto, ‘E pluribus unum’: out of the many, one.”
FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE VISIT: http://www.wrightnow.biz/articles_view.asp?articleid=8386…
Related
South Asian Female Playwright
https://www.prlog.org/12816387-south-asian-american-playwright-trail-blazes-in-sfbatco-new-roots-theatre-festival.html
Video Announcement:
https://youtu.be/tAnXEv-9_cg
Jul 19, 2021 | International
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, has just concluded a trip to seven First Nations communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The first multiple-stop trip since before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 18, 2021 — Ottawa, unceded traditional Algonquin territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, has just concluded a trip to seven First Nations communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The first multiple-stop trip since before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A key priority throughout the trip was visiting health centres to acknowledge health care staff for their unwavering commitment throughout the pandemic on behalf of Canada. They stepped up to keep their community members safe and are the true heroes in Indigenous communities across the country. In addition to visiting with health care workers in each community, Minister Miller attended a vaccination clinic in Eskasoni First Nation and commended participants for making the choice to protect their loved ones and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
During his trip, Minister Miller made two announcements in Membertou First Nation. The first focused on the Indigenous Community Business Fund, specifically $1.5 million for Membertou First Nation businesses and over $13 million for community businesses in the Atlantic region impacted by the pandemic. With members from the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey Board of Directors, Minister Miller, on behalf of Canadian Heritage, also highlighted federal funding for the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of Indigenous languages and cultures for Mi’kmaq First Nations by announcing that, starting in the 2021–2022 fiscal year, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey will act as the third-party administrator of the Indigenous Languages Cultures Program on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia.
Throughout discussions with Chiefs and councils, the theme of economic development, post-pandemic recovery and building the Indigenous workforce remained front and centre. A number of projects were highlighted, including the Cultural Journeys tour around Goat Island in Eskasoni—a nationally recognized Mi’kmaw cultural experience. Minister Miller also drove through the very successful Webster Farms, owned and operated by Annapolis Valley First Nation, during the height of strawberry season! He was lucky enough to be able to pick a few raspberries while walking through the field. While in the community, he also sat down to have a lunch meeting with Chief Gerald Toney and council to discuss their economic and treaty priorities.
Following a short drive down the road to Glooscap First Nation, in addition to meeting with Chief Sidney Peters and council and expressing his appreciation to health care staff, Minister Miller also visited Glooscap Landing, a growing hub of economic development in the region.
Minister Miller was accompanied by Chief Michael Sack of Sipekne’katik First Nation for a tour of the former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School site and surrounding areas, which operated from 1929 to 1967. Parks Canada recognized this location as a national historic site in 2020. Since the recent discoveries in Kamloops, British Columbia, First Nations communities in the region have held a number of commemorative events to recognize the horrors of the residential school system, raise awareness throughout the province, and honour the children and survivors. This included 12-year-old Landyn Toney’s Walk for Awareness, where he personally walked 200 kilometres from his home in Valley, Nova Scotia, to his home community in Annapolis Valley First Nation, which has raised over $50,000 to date. Minister Miller had the opportunity to meet with Landyn and his mom and personally thanked him for his remarkable efforts.
Minister Miller then travelled to Millbrook First Nation to meet with Chief Robert Gloade and council. During this visit, he toured the community, met with health centre staff and toured the Millbrook Power Centre, a significant economic driver in the province, which showcases Millbrook businesses.
While meeting with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM), Minister Miller announced $1.1 million in support of the Confederacy’s Mi’kmawey Green Communities Program and their work to further develop greener, more sustainable waste management systems in their eight member communities.
Dr. Donald Julien, Executive Director of CMM and honorary lieutenant colonel in Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, provided Minister Miller with a tour of the future site of the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre. This project will ensure the long-term care and protection of the Debert Palaeo-Indian Site, one of the earliest known ancestral places in North America, which has located Mi’kmaw artifacts that date back 13,500 years. It was designated as a national historical site by Parks Canada in 1972, an important step in reclaiming and recognizing the true history of the Mi’kmaw in the area.
Minister Miller concluded his Atlantic visit in Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation in New Brunswick, where funding for the construction and operation of a new shelter was highlighted. Chief George Ginnish expressed the significance of the project to the community, stating “Natoaganeg First Nation is honoured to have been selected to receive one of 12 new shelters across Canada for Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people escaping family violence. These centres will provide critical refuge and culturally appropriate supports to help survivors of family violence.” Minister Miller also met with Roger Augustine, Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and other members from council and the community.
True to form, the Mi’kmaw of Atlantic Canada provided Minister Miller with a warm welcome and frank discussions on topics including economic development and recovery, housing, and mental health, and he looks forward to future opportunities to visit additional Indigenous communities throughout the region.
“Chiefs and councils in Atlantic Canada have done an amazing job responding to the pandemic and protecting their community members. With this trip, I wanted to personally commend the leadership and the health care teams across the region for their extraordinary efforts and contribution to this success. I am certain that leadership will continue to fight to ensure that their communities continue to thrive as restrictions are lifted. I appreciate being welcomed into communities while respecting local public health restrictions in order to have the chance to meet with Elders, survivors, Chiefs, councils and community members in person. Being able to build these relationships by working together and fostering an open dialogue is an essential component to my role, which will help me, and the Government of Canada, understand the needs and priorities of Indigenous communities in the Atlantic region.”
The Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Indigenous Services
Marie-Emmanuelle Cadieux
Communications Director
Office of the Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Indigenous Services
Marie-emmanuelle.cadieux@canada.ca
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