Government of Canada Supports Preservation of the Nakoda Language

MORLEY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Oct. 5, 2010) - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Blake Richards, Member of Parliament (Wild Rose), today announced funding for the Rocky Mountain Nakoda Centre for Language and Culture Preservation for its Rocky Mountain Nakoda Website Project.

This funding will enable the Centre for Language and Culture Preservation (CLCP) to develop a website that includes a library of audio and video recordings in the Nakoda language, as well as other educational resources such as guidelines for accurate and authentic application and use of Nakoda.

"Canada has a rich diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis languages, but unfortunately many of these languages face challenges in our country today," said Minister Moore. "Our Government is committed to the revitalization and preservation of these languages and continues to support Aboriginal organizations in their efforts to protect and strengthen them."

"I congratulate the CLCP for undertaking such an innovative website project," said Mr. Richards. "Once completed, teachers and students will have easy access to a wide range of educational resources, which should greatly contribute to the vitality of the Rocky Mountain Nakoda dialect."

"The main objective of this custom-designed website is to have a central venue to standardize, preserve, and maintain for present and future generations the accurate Rocky Mountain Nakoda dialect, cultural customs, and values," said Peter Wesley, CLCP Coordinator. "In doing so, our language and culture will remain alive and will continue to thrive and expand, without becoming extinct. Interest in knowing more about our heritage should extend beyond the Stoney Nakoda Nation to anyone who wants a better understanding about this distinct society that has inhabited this geographic region since time immemorial."

The Government of Canada has provided $26,807 in funding through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) Innovation Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage's Aboriginal Peoples' Program. The objective of this fund is to encourage and support innovative community-based language projects that use existing technology to revitalize and preserve Aboriginal languages. ALI provides funding to support the revitalization and preservation of Aboriginal languages to increase their use in community and family settings.

(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)