[Music] tannoy up an equate doll neshty ends
tannoy up an equate doll neshty ends
tannoy up an equate doll neshty ends call Salem tonight some photos caught
call Salem tonight some photos caught
call Salem tonight some photos caught much off aqua mail I just introduced
much off aqua mail I just introduced
much off aqua mail I just introduced myself my name is call Salem which is a
myself my name is call Salem which is a
myself my name is call Salem which is a Coast Salish name I was given by my
Coast Salish name I was given by my
Coast Salish name I was given by my grandmother many years ago in a
grandmother many years ago in a
grandmother many years ago in a traditional Coast sailor ceremony and
traditional Coast sailor ceremony and
traditional Coast sailor ceremony and I’ve gone by this name ever since
I’ve gone by this name ever since
I’ve gone by this name ever since whereas before I went by my English name
whereas before I went by my English name
whereas before I went by my English name or what I sometimes call my government
or what I sometimes call my government
or what I sometimes call my government name I don’t identify myself with that
name I don’t identify myself with that
name I don’t identify myself with that name anymore because I made a commitment
name anymore because I made a commitment
name anymore because I made a commitment a personal commitment for myself that as
a personal commitment for myself that as
a personal commitment for myself that as somebody who was learning my language my
somebody who was learning my language my
somebody who was learning my language my indigenous language and as somebody who
indigenous language and as somebody who
indigenous language and as somebody who wanted to promote and strengthen the
wanted to promote and strengthen the
wanted to promote and strengthen the connection to my indigenous language I
connection to my indigenous language I
connection to my indigenous language I thought why not identify myself and go
thought why not identify myself and go
thought why not identify myself and go into the world with my indigenous name
into the world with my indigenous name
into the world with my indigenous name that comes from my indigenous language
that comes from my indigenous language
that comes from my indigenous language and so I’ve done that ever since and
and so I’ve done that ever since and
and so I’ve done that ever since and part of living by this name this
part of living by this name this
part of living by this name this indigenous name that comes from this
indigenous name that comes from this
indigenous name that comes from this territory that I grew up in is that it
territory that I grew up in is that it
territory that I grew up in is that it invites me to engage people all the time
invites me to engage people all the time
invites me to engage people all the time in a practice of humility and patience
in a practice of humility and patience
in a practice of humility and patience which are both very useful values to
which are both very useful values to
which are both very useful values to have when you’re a language teacher
have when you’re a language teacher
have when you’re a language teacher which I have been for the last few years
which I have been for the last few years
which I have been for the last few years because every time I meet somebody it’s
because every time I meet somebody it’s
because every time I meet somebody it’s constantly a reminder a practice of how
constantly a reminder a practice of how
constantly a reminder a practice of how I can be generous and kind and and with
I can be generous and kind and and with
I can be generous and kind and and with with teaching people how to pronounce my
with teaching people how to pronounce my
with teaching people how to pronounce my name and so many people are very very
name and so many people are very very
name and so many people are very very self-conscious about whether they’re
self-conscious about whether they’re
self-conscious about whether they’re gonna say my name correctly or wrongly
gonna say my name correctly or wrongly
gonna say my name correctly or wrongly and all that kind of stuff but when
and all that kind of stuff but when
and all that kind of stuff but when you’re learning a language it’s really
you’re learning a language it’s really
you’re learning a language it’s really important to make mistakes and it’s
important to make mistakes and it’s
important to make mistakes and it’s really important that you learn to make
really important that you learn to make
really important that you learn to make mistakes and that making mistakes is a
mistakes and that making mistakes is a
mistakes and that making mistakes is a good thing to do so one of my dreams
good thing to do so one of my dreams
good thing to do so one of my dreams over the last few years has been to see
over the last few years has been to see
over the last few years has been to see the return of my peoples language the
the return of my peoples language the
the return of my peoples language the Squamish language is one of the most
Squamish language is one of the most
Squamish language is one of the most endangered languages in British Columbia
endangered languages in British Columbia
endangered languages in British Columbia the first peoples Cultural Council in
the first peoples Cultural Council in
the first peoples Cultural Council in 2014 released a report on the status of
2014 released a report on the status of
2014 released a report on the status of BC First Nations languages and out of
BC First Nations languages and out of
BC First Nations languages and out of the the many languages that exist in BC
the the many languages that exist in BC
the the many languages that exist in BC Squamish was in the top three what that
Squamish was in the top three what that
Squamish was in the top three what that meant was we only have a handful of
meant was we only have a handful of
meant was we only have a handful of speakers who are over the age of 75 most
speakers who are over the age of 75 most
speakers who are over the age of 75 most of them are elderly and it’s something
of them are elderly and it’s something
of them are elderly and it’s something that if we don’t do something drastic in
that if we don’t do something drastic in
that if we don’t do something drastic in our lifetime we’re gonna see the decline
our lifetime we’re gonna see the decline
our lifetime we’re gonna see the decline and eventually extinction of our
and eventually extinction of our
and eventually extinction of our language
language
language however the story is actually not one of
however the story is actually not one of
however the story is actually not one of a dying language the census that has
a dying language the census that has
a dying language the census that has just come out from Canada is showing
just come out from Canada is showing
just come out from Canada is showing that indigenous language speakers across
that indigenous language speakers across
that indigenous language speakers across the country is going up the first
the country is going up the first
the country is going up the first people’s cultural council report in 2014
people’s cultural council report in 2014
people’s cultural council report in 2014 showed that the number of language
showed that the number of language
showed that the number of language learners is going up and so the myth of
learners is going up and so the myth of
learners is going up and so the myth of dying indigenous language is actually
dying indigenous language is actually
dying indigenous language is actually not true young people like myself are
not true young people like myself are
not true young people like myself are committing themselves to becoming
committing themselves to becoming
committing themselves to becoming speakers of our indigenous languages and
speakers of our indigenous languages and
speakers of our indigenous languages and this is despite any major program being
this is despite any major program being
this is despite any major program being done by Canada to support indigenous
done by Canada to support indigenous
done by Canada to support indigenous languages just in the last few years the
languages just in the last few years the
languages just in the last few years the Government of Canada only funded
Government of Canada only funded
Government of Canada only funded languages at a pro five million a year
languages at a pro five million a year
languages at a pro five million a year compared to English and French which
compared to English and French which
compared to English and French which received close to a billion dollars a
received close to a billion dollars a
received close to a billion dollars a year in government funding so one of the
year in government funding so one of the
year in government funding so one of the things that I’m on a mission to share
things that I’m on a mission to share
things that I’m on a mission to share with the rest of the world and with
with the rest of the world and with
with the rest of the world and with Canadians is that I think indigenous
Canadians is that I think indigenous
Canadians is that I think indigenous languages would make Canada a far more
languages would make Canada a far more
languages would make Canada a far more indigenous indigenous place and I think
indigenous indigenous place and I think
indigenous indigenous place and I think it would make Canada a far more
it would make Canada a far more
it would make Canada a far more interesting place that Canada has as
interesting place that Canada has as
interesting place that Canada has as rich history that it is now part of it
rich history that it is now part of it
rich history that it is now part of it that we as indigenous people have been
that we as indigenous people have been
that we as indigenous people have been invited into and we’re now engaging in a
invited into and we’re now engaging in a
invited into and we’re now engaging in a conversation about how do we achieve
conversation about how do we achieve
conversation about how do we achieve reconciliation between indigenous people
reconciliation between indigenous people
reconciliation between indigenous people in Canada now we know through the
in Canada now we know through the
in Canada now we know through the history of residential schools that the
history of residential schools that the
history of residential schools that the impact on indigenous languages are has
impact on indigenous languages are has
impact on indigenous languages are has been severe and it has been as a direct
been severe and it has been as a direct
been severe and it has been as a direct result of the policies of the
result of the policies of the
result of the policies of the residential school era my own
residential school era my own
residential school era my own grandmother went to residential school
grandmother went to residential school
grandmother went to residential school for ten years and she spoke our language
for ten years and she spoke our language
for ten years and she spoke our language before she had gone when she was taken
before she had gone when she was taken
before she had gone when she was taken at seven years old but when she had
at seven years old but when she had
at seven years old but when she had graduated in 1950 1947 she couldn’t
graduated in 1950 1947 she couldn’t
graduated in 1950 1947 she couldn’t speak her language and the reason for
speak her language and the reason for
speak her language and the reason for this was during the years that she was
this was during the years that she was
this was during the years that she was in that residential school in North
in that residential school in North
in that residential school in North Vancouver at st. Paul’s she was met with
Vancouver at st. Paul’s she was met with
Vancouver at st. Paul’s she was met with violence and physical abuse and an
violence and physical abuse and an
violence and physical abuse and an outright policy against the use of her
outright policy against the use of her
outright policy against the use of her language in the school it was a policy
language in the school it was a policy
language in the school it was a policy of extermination of our cultural unity
of extermination of our cultural unity
of extermination of our cultural unity but also our language now I think about
but also our language now I think about
but also our language now I think about that and I think about that policy and
that and I think about that policy and
that and I think about that policy and if reconciliation is about repairing the
if reconciliation is about repairing the
if reconciliation is about repairing the relationship between indigenous people
relationship between indigenous people
relationship between indigenous people and Canadians and Canadian society what
and Canadians and Canadian society what
and Canadians and Canadian society what would it look like to have that policy
would it look like to have that policy
would it look like to have that policy of the residential school in Reverse
of the residential school in Reverse
of the residential school in Reverse what would it look like if there was a
what would it look like if there was a
what would it look like if there was a policy and a law that said that
policy and a law that said that
policy and a law that said that indigenous people had the right to have
indigenous people had the right to have
indigenous people had the right to have their children educated in their
their children educated in their
their children educated in their indigenous language and it’s the
indigenous language and it’s the
indigenous language and it’s the interesting thing is the reason I have
interesting thing is the reason I have
interesting thing is the reason I have that idea is not because it came out of
that idea is not because it came out of
that idea is not because it came out of somewhere else that’s because that idea
somewhere else that’s because that idea
somewhere else that’s because that idea actually comes from Canada in Canada if
actually comes from Canada in Canada if
actually comes from Canada in Canada if you are an English or French speaker you
you are an English or French speaker you
you are an English or French speaker you have the right to have your children
have the right to have your children
have the right to have your children educated in your language that is not a
educated in your language that is not a
educated in your language that is not a right that is extended to indigenous
right that is extended to indigenous
right that is extended to indigenous languages yet and so my invitation to
languages yet and so my invitation to
languages yet and so my invitation to people is that I think Canada would be a
people is that I think Canada would be a
people is that I think Canada would be a more interesting place
more interesting place
more interesting place if indigenous languages were thriving
if indigenous languages were thriving
if indigenous languages were thriving and they can because as we see right now
and they can because as we see right now
and they can because as we see right now everywhere across Canada indigenous
everywhere across Canada indigenous
everywhere across Canada indigenous people young people are learning their
people young people are learning their
people young people are learning their language and trying to maintain it and
language and trying to maintain it and
language and trying to maintain it and to keep it going
to keep it going
to keep it going and that’s despite any major support
and that’s despite any major support
and that’s despite any major support from government or from the rest of the
from government or from the rest of the
from government or from the rest of the Canadian Society now I think that there
Canadian Society now I think that there
Canadian Society now I think that there is a possibility that our communities if
is a possibility that our communities if
is a possibility that our communities if they wanted could make indigenous
they wanted could make indigenous
they wanted could make indigenous languages accessible and available in
languages accessible and available in
languages accessible and available in our public schools and our schools
our public schools and our schools
our public schools and our schools around the province around the country
around the province around the country
around the province around the country with the support of indigenous
with the support of indigenous
with the support of indigenous communities that want to gift our
communities that want to gift our
communities that want to gift our indigenous languages to Canadians as a
indigenous languages to Canadians as a
indigenous languages to Canadians as a example of a meaningful reconciliation
example of a meaningful reconciliation
example of a meaningful reconciliation between our communities and I think that
between our communities and I think that
between our communities and I think that as I said before I think Canada would be
as I said before I think Canada would be
as I said before I think Canada would be a far more interesting place when you
a far more interesting place when you
a far more interesting place when you travel around the world and you go to
travel around the world and you go to
travel around the world and you go to different communities around the world
different communities around the world
different communities around the world one of the things that is very apparent
one of the things that is very apparent
one of the things that is very apparent is that when he travel places the
is that when he travel places the
is that when he travel places the language of that community language of
language of that community language of
language of that community language of the people the language of that country
the people the language of that country
the people the language of that country really informs the culture the identity
really informs the culture the identity
really informs the culture the identity and the community of that place and
and the community of that place and
and the community of that place and there are 60 indigenous languages in
there are 60 indigenous languages in
there are 60 indigenous languages in Canada most of them are NBC and many of
Canada most of them are NBC and many of
Canada most of them are NBC and many of them are in a state of decline and many
them are in a state of decline and many
them are in a state of decline and many of them are starting to come back with
of them are starting to come back with
of them are starting to come back with young people learning the language so
young people learning the language so
young people learning the language so we’re at this dichotomy where some are
we’re at this dichotomy where some are
we’re at this dichotomy where some are declining and some are coming back but I
declining and some are coming back but I
declining and some are coming back but I think that if we were to extend those
think that if we were to extend those
think that if we were to extend those types of language rights to indigenous
types of language rights to indigenous
types of language rights to indigenous language speakers and make that right
language speakers and make that right
language speakers and make that right extend it to all Canadians so that if it
extend it to all Canadians so that if it
extend it to all Canadians so that if it was available in your school that it
was available in your school that it
was available in your school that it would be a gift to everybody to come and
would be a gift to everybody to come and
would be a gift to everybody to come and learn the indigenous language of the
learn the indigenous language of the
learn the indigenous language of the territory on which those children are
territory on which those children are
territory on which those children are being raised
being raised
being raised and I think that’s actually a really
and I think that’s actually a really
and I think that’s actually a really fundamental shift in the consciousness
fundamental shift in the consciousness
fundamental shift in the consciousness of our identity the way that many years
of our identity the way that many years
of our identity the way that many years ago there was a shift in consciousness
ago there was a shift in consciousness
ago there was a shift in consciousness around the identity between English and
around the identity between English and
around the identity between English and French culture with that makes up Canada
French culture with that makes up Canada
French culture with that makes up Canada and I think it’s time now as we enter
and I think it’s time now as we enter
and I think it’s time now as we enter into the 21st century that there is a
into the 21st century that there is a
into the 21st century that there is a possibility that we can add and really
possibility that we can add and really
possibility that we can add and really elevate the value of indigenous cultures
elevate the value of indigenous cultures
elevate the value of indigenous cultures in in languages but that that is
in in languages but that that is
in in languages but that that is something that going forward becomes a
something that going forward becomes a
something that going forward becomes a part of us as the way that French and
part of us as the way that French and
part of us as the way that French and English has in the past and I think that
English has in the past and I think that
English has in the past and I think that there is a way to do it there is a lot
there is a way to do it there is a lot
there is a way to do it there is a lot of successful models around how to
of successful models around how to
of successful models around how to revitalize indigenous languages and that
revitalize indigenous languages and that
revitalize indigenous languages and that this should be led by indigenous
this should be led by indigenous
this should be led by indigenous communities who are doing the work but
communities who are doing the work but
communities who are doing the work but there is something really beautiful
there is something really beautiful
there is something really beautiful about hearing the languages of the lands
about hearing the languages of the lands
about hearing the languages of the lands that we come from and I think that for
that we come from and I think that for
that we come from and I think that for all of the work that is happening to
all of the work that is happening to
all of the work that is happening to repair this relationship from doing
repair this relationship from doing
repair this relationship from doing territorial acknowledgement at the
territorial acknowledgement at the
territorial acknowledgement at the beginning of school assemblies to having
beginning of school assemblies to having
beginning of school assemblies to having land markers placed on our territory
land markers placed on our territory
land markers placed on our territory again like carvings and welcome figures
again like carvings and welcome figures
again like carvings and welcome figures but I think the next step in that
but I think the next step in that
but I think the next step in that relationship building that step that we
relationship building that step that we
relationship building that step that we take together is actually going to be
take together is actually going to be
take together is actually going to be about families and communities
about families and communities
about families and communities supporting the revitalization of a
supporting the revitalization of a
supporting the revitalization of a digital anguishes so that that becomes
digital anguishes so that that becomes
digital anguishes so that that becomes something that we all share in as we
something that we all share in as we
something that we all share in as we understand our place in the world and
understand our place in the world and
understand our place in the world and our place in our community as there’s
our place in our community as there’s
our place in our community as there’s new relationship that we’re forming
new relationship that we’re forming
new relationship that we’re forming together and I think that that’s what
together and I think that that’s what
together and I think that that’s what will happen if we all believe that
will happen if we all believe that
will happen if we all believe that Canada would be a far more interesting
Canada would be a far more interesting
Canada would be a far more interesting place with thriving indigenous languages
place with thriving indigenous languages
place with thriving indigenous languages so thank you
so thank you
so thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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