Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute

Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI) - an intensive annual "summer school for Indigenous language activists, speakers, linguists, and teachers" - hosted at the University of Alberta, Edmonton[7] - is a "multicultural, cross-linguistic, interdisciplinary, inter-regional, inter-generational" initiative.[8] CILLDI was established in 1999 with one Cree language course offered by Cree speaker Donna Paskemin.[9] By 2016 over 600 CILLDI students representing nearly 30 Canadian Indigenous languages had participated in the program and it had become the "most national (and international) of similar language revitalization programs in Canada aimed at the promotion of First Peoples languages."[7] CILLDI - a joint venture between the University of Alberta and the University of Saskatchewan[10][11] - responds to "different sociolinguistic situations in language communities under threat" and includes three faculties at the University of Alberta in Edmonton - Arts, Education, and Native Studies.[12] CILLDI provides practical training to students which is "directly implemented back in the community."[3] Initiatives like CILLDI were formed against the backdrop of a projection of a catastrophic and rapid decline of languages in the twenty-first century.[1][13][14][15]

Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Institute
Founder(s)Heather Blair
Donna Paskemin
Sally Rice
Priscilla Settee
Edie Hyggenat
Established1999
MissionIndigenous language revitalization in Western Canada[1][2][3]
Focus"linguistics, endangered indigenous language documentation and revitalization, language and literacy learning, second language teaching and curriculum development, and language policy and planning"[4]
Key peopleAdvisory council
Donna Paskemin
Heather Blair
Sally Rice
Mary Cardinal Collins
Priscilla Settee,[5][6]
Edie Hyggenat
Brenda Ahenakew
Dolores Sand
Sam Robinson[2]
Location
Edmonton
,
Canada
Websitehttp://www.cilldi.ualberta.ca

Context

There are more than 60 Aboriginal languages in Canada. With the exception of Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, all Canadian Indigenous languages are endangered, many critically so. Indigenous communities, colleges and universities are working to preserve — and in some cases, restore — these languages, but so far there has been no national initiative dedicated to Indigenous language sustainability in Canada.

— Sally Rice, 2016, ANVILS, University of Alberta

In both Saskatchewan and Manitoba there was an interest in "Indigenous language and bilingual program development" in the mid-1970s.[2]:93[16][17] The 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal People report drew widespread attention to the plight of Canada’s Indigenous languages.[2]:93[18][19][20][21] The World Indigenous Peoples Conference-Education (WIPCE) was held in 1999.[22]

According to the 2006 Canadian census "only 12.4% of Indigenous children aged 0-4 [were] learning an Indigenous language at home; another 5% [were] acquiring one as an additional language."[23] By 2007 "The forecast for preserving and revitalizing Canada’s Indigenous languages was gloomy.[24][25]

History

CILLDI was established in 1999 by a collective of language advocates and educators including Donna Paskemin, Heather Blair, and Sally Rice; the first CILLDI summer institute was held on the Onion Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan and offered one course entitled "Expanding Cree Language and Literacy" with fifteen students from Alberta and Saskatchewan.[26] in July 2000. CILLDE, an "indigenous educator training institute" was modeled after its American counterpart - the American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI)[1][2] - which itself was co-founded by language activist, Lucille Watahomigie[27][28] and Leanne Hinton[29][30][31] and is now based at the University of Arizona in Tucson.[10][32] Freda Ahenakew, CM SOM (1932 – 2011) a Cree linguist and recipient of the Order of Canada of Cree descent was the honoured guest. Ahenakew's work[2]:96[33][34][35] and that of Dr. Verna Kirkness, a Cree scholar and language advocate, is acknowledged as catalytic in the formation of CILLDI.[2]:96 Donna Paskemin – who had worked in 1981 at the Saskatchewan Indian Languages Institute (SILI) under the direction of Dr Freda Ahenakew[9] – was the instructor for the Cree immersion course.[26]

According to Arden Ogg of the Cree Literacy Network, Donna Paskewin,[9]

... was the driving force behind the inception of the Canadian Indigenous Language and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI) in 2000 at the University of Alberta and helped guide its development as a language planner, instructor, curriculum developer, immersion teacher, and fundraiser, always consulting the Elders and following appropriate protocols. I believe that we would never have gotten the Institute off the ground had it not been for Donna’s insistence on its importance and the urgent need. Donna’s work has been the foundation of the language retention and revitalization efforts of the over 800 CILLDI students since 2000.

— Arden Ogg "In Tribute" 2011

When Donna's young daughter Jodee Jayne attended CILLDI one summer, as the youngest attendee, Donna was motivated to organize a Cree Immersion Day camp in 2004 at CILLDI for the children of our adult students so that the language would be learned by the next generations.[36] Jodee attended the Young Women’s Circle of Leadership at CILLDI in 2009.[9]

In July 2001 the summer school was held in St. Paul, Alberta with thirty-eight students including Cree, Dene Suline, Michif, and North Slavey speakers from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories. Cree courses were taught by Donna Paskemin (1961-2011)[9] with Dolores Sand; Dene was taught by Valerie Wood and Marge Reynolds; Linguistics by University of Alberta Linguistics professor, Sally A. Rice with Brenda Ahenakew; and Planning for Indigenous Language and Literacy Development by University of Alberta Education professor, Heather Blair.[37]

In 2003 the Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) hosted the program in La Ronge, Saskatchewan.[10][38] By 2003 more classes were being offered and the summer school moved permanently to its new home on the University of Alberta campus.

The Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) which was initiated in 1976 by the Northern Lights School Division "to facilitate access to teacher education and certification for northerners, particularly those of Aboriginal ancestry. At the time, there was less than 1% of Aboriginal Teachers in the north and the teacher turn-over rate was very high."[39]

Donna Paskemin, Heather Blair, Sally Rice, Mary Cardinal Collins, Priscilla Settee,[5][6] Edie Hyggenat, Brenda Ahenakew, Dolores Sand and Sam Robinson were on the CILLDI Advisory Council.[2]

Students and teachers

CILLDI students mainly come from the British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon and Nunavut. Faculty, teaching assistants, and supporters include endangered language activists from across North America.[40] This includes Alberta Ministries of Education, Advanced Education, and Community Development, University of Arizona (AILDI), Aurora College, Blue Quills First Nations Tribal College, Buffalo Nations Museum, University of Calgary, First Nations University College of Canada (University of Regina), University of Hawaiʻi, Keyano College, Maskwachees Cultural College, Metis Nation of Alberta, University of Montana, University of New Mexico, Northern Lights School Division, Red Crow Community College, University of Saskatchewan, Sealaska Heritage Center and Yellowhead Tribal College.

Instructors at these institutes are "educators, researchers and Aboriginal language speakers drawn from the teaching and administrative staff of school districts and from university faculties across North America."[41]:34

Programs

Every summer CILLDI offers courses with university credits about Indigenous language and culture. CILLDI focuses on teaching Indigenous language teachers through indigenous language revitalization in Western Canada.[1][2][3] Courses include content on "linguistics, endangered indigenous language documentation and revitalization, language and literacy learning, second language teaching and curriculum development, and language policy and planning."[42] CILLDE also maintains an online catalogue of their "books, reports, journals, and learning materials."[43]

Community Linguist Certificate (CLC)

Some CILLDI courses lead to a Community Linguist Certificate (CLC). This program provides a unique opportunity to earn university credit while learning about Indigenous languages and culture. CIILDI provides "background training in a variety of disciplines to students who may be seeking a B.A. or a B.Ed. or other advanced degree, diploma, or certificate." Through CILLDI the accredited Community Linguist Certificate (CLC) program was developed in 2007 by Sally Rice - "Professor of Linguistics at the University of Alberta and a co-founder and former director of CILLDI" - [7] By 2016 over 90 Indigenous language speakers in Canada had earned their CLC.[7] CLC students are often "fluent speakers who may also be veteran language teachers with years of experience in the classroom but very little formal training" or "young professionals recently tasked with developing language revitalization programming in their home communities." They may lack an understanding of the "lexical and grammatical patterns of one's language, as well as the ways in which those patterns can be meaningfully and systematically manipulated in context."[44][45][46]

According to Sally Rice,[47] CILLDI co-founder and CLC co-developer,

In developing the program, we assumed that the holder of the Community Linguist Certificate would likely be called upon by his or her community to lead any local language documentation, maintenance or revitalization efforts. In addition to the expected work of dictionary, grammar and text production, certificate recipients would probably be tasked with projects such as refining orthographic systems and promoting them to speakers, recording Elders and transcribing their stories, serving as an interpreter, digitizing oral texts, conducting language use surveys, developing planning and policy documents, writing language-based grant proposals, promoting public awareness, working with local Elders and teachers to develop language curriculum materials, offering language classes for adult learners, producing a community newsletter in the Aboriginal language, running language and culture camps and assisting the band administration in implementing language policy in communities and schools.

— Sally Rice cited in Flynn 2016

[S]peaking a language is like driving a car, while doing linguistic analysis is like servicing it: we have to take the language off the road, so to speak, put it up on blocks, see how all the component parts work together and, if need be, take them apart. However, we can and do put the analytical units back together ....

— Sally Rice cited in Flynn 2016

The Tsúùt’ìnà Gunaha ('Tsúùt’ìnà Language') Project - a joint initiative between the Tsuu T'ina Nation near Calgary, Alberta, and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Alberta - delivers the CLC program on the reserve.[48] Stephen Crowchild, the current director of the Tsuut'ina Gunaha Institute - their language revitalization program - is a former student of CILLDI.[49]

A National Vision for Indigenous Language Stability (ANVILS)

A National Vision for Indigenous Language Stability (ANVILS) is a workshop held during CILLDI's intense summer school program at the University of Alberta. ANVIL brings together "Indigenous leaders, national and international scholars and representatives from the government to begin a national conversation about Indigenous language sustainability and preservation."

Role

Canadian researchers compiling a 2007 literature review of Canadian and international indigenous language learning and teaching, noted that literature published on "linguistic language theoretical and practical findings" - was more easily available to public educational institutions or libraries; but the invaluable pedagogical language strategies significant body of "pedagogical linguistic language materials" developed within First Nations communities" were known to representatives from institutes like CILLDI who worked closely with communities.[41]:1

Further reading
  • Blair, Heather, Paskemin, Donna, & Laderoute, B. (2002). "A language of our own: The genesis of Michif, the mixed Cree-French language of the Canadian Métis." International Journal of American Linguistics, 68(4), 242-246.
  • Paskemin, Myron; Paskemin, Donna (2002), B. Burnaby; J. Revhner (eds.), "Incorporating traditional Nehiyaw/Plains Cree education in the university" (PDF), Northern Arizona University, Indigenous languages across the community, Flagstaff, AZ, pp. 175–182

Donna Paskemin co-authored papers and presented with colleagues such as Barb Laderoute, Laura Burnouf, Ferlin McGilvery, and Heather Blair.

  • (2006, May). "Research developments at the Canadian Indigenous Language and Literacy Development Institute." Paper presented at the conference of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Toronto, ON.
  • (2006, May). "Valuing diversity: Indigenous knowledge and knowledge systems as curriculum." Paper presented at the conference of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Toronto, ON.
  • (2004, April). "Take action to support Indigenous language revitalization." Paper presented at the AWASIS conference of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, Saskatoon, SK.
  • (2003, April). "Working towards saving Indigenous languages: The role of the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute." Paper presented at the conference of the Treaty Eight education directors, Edmonton, AB.
  • (2003, April). "Working towards saving Indigenous languages: The role of CILLDI." Paper presented at the AWASIS conference of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, Saskatoon, SK.
  • (2002, February). "The Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute." Paper presented at the Echoing the Voices of Our Ancestors Aboriginal Languages conference, Vancouver, BC.
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References
  1. Blair, Heather A.; Paskemin, Donna; Laderoute, Barbara (June 2002). Resource development: Preparing Indigenous language advocates, teachers, and researchers (PDF). Stabilizing Indigenous Languages symposium. Preparing Indigenous Language Advocates, Teachers, and Researchers in Western Canada. Bozeman, MT.
  2. Blair, Heather A.; Paskemin, Donna; Laderoute, Barbara (2003), "Preparing Indigenous language advocates, teachers, and researchers" (PDF), Northern Arizona University, Nurturing Native Languages, Flagstaff, Arizona
  3. "CIILDI homepage", University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 2002, retrieved July 5, 2016
  4. "2016 CILLDI Summer Program", CILLDI, Edmonton, Alberta, 2016, archived from the original on July 27, 2016, retrieved July 11, 2016
  5. P.Settee, 2006, Presenter, Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute, Aichi,Japan
  6. Ted Talk 7 Sep 2012. Priscilla's Book, "Strength of Women: AhkamIyimowak"
  7. Rice, Sally; Thunder, Dorothy (May 30, 2016). Towards A Living Digital Archive of Canadian Indigenous Languages (PDF). Conference of the Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics (CAAL). Indigenous Languages and Reconciliation. Calgary, Alberta. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Held during the 2016 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences
  8. Ball, Jessica; McIvor, Onowa (2013), Benson, Carol; Kosonen, Kimmo (eds.), "Canada's Big Chill: Indigenous Languages in Education", Sense Publishers, Language Issues in Comparative Education Inclusive Teaching and Learning in Non-Dominant Languages and Cultures, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, p. 23, ISBN 978-94-6209-218-1
  9. Ogg, Arden (October 19, 2011), "In tribute: Donna Lynne Paskemin (1961-2011)", Cree Literacy, retrieved July 5, 2016
  10. "CIILDI homepage: History", University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 2002, archived from the original on June 17, 2016, retrieved July 5, 2016
  11. "Aboriginal Peoples Network: Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute", University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 2002, archived from the original on June 16, 2016, retrieved July 5, 2016
  12. "CIILDI homepage: About", University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 2002, archived from the original on June 17, 2016, retrieved July 5, 2016
  13. "CIILDI homepage: Context", University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 2002, archived from the original on July 27, 2016, retrieved July 5, 2016
  14. Cope, Lida, ed. (June 3, 2014). Applied Linguists Needed: Cross-disciplinary Networking in Endangered Language Contexts. Routledge. p. 136.
  15. Wohlberg, Meagan (June 24, 2016), "Indigenous languages are dying in Canada. Here's how people are trying to save them", Vice News, retrieved July 10, 2016
  16. Branch handbook: A brief description of its development and operation. Lac La Ronge, SK: Author
  17. Manitoba Department of Education. (1975). Manitoba Native bilingual program evaluation. Winnipeg: Native Education Branch
  18. Billy, J. (2000, June). The challenges and successes of an immersion program. Paper presented at the 7th Annual Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Conference, Toronto.
  19. Blair, H., & Fredeen, S. (1995). Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage, against the dying of the light. Anthropology & Education, 26(1), 27-49.
  20. Blair, H. (1997). Indian languages policy and planning in Saskatchewan: A research report. Regina: Government of Saskatchewan.
  21. Government of Canada. (1996). Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Ottawa: Canada Communication Group.
  22. Angayuqaq, Oscar Kawagley (September 20, 2003), Reyhner, J.; Trujillo, O.; Carrasco, R.; Lockard, L. (eds.), "Nurturing Native Languages" (PDF), Northern Arizona University, Nurturing Native Languages, Flagstaff, Arizona, pp. vii–x
  23. Norris, Mary Jane (2006). White, Jerry P.; Beavon, Dan; Wingert, Susan (eds.). Aboriginal languages in Canada: Trends and perspectives on maintenance and revitalization. Thompson Educational Publishing. Indigenous policy research: Moving forward, making a difference. 3. Toronto, Ontario. pp. 197–228.
  24. Norris, Mary Jane (2007). "Aboriginal languages in Canada: Emerging trends and perspectives on second language acquisition". Canadian Social Trends. 83: 20–28.
  25. "Native Montreal seeks teachers to revive Indigenous languages: Fall classes are open to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students". CBC News. July 4, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  26. "CIILDI History 2000", University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 2002, archived from the original on July 27, 2016, retrieved July 5, 2016
  27. McVeigh, Kerry (January 11, 1981). "Hualapai students learn to read and write their native language" (Reprint). Kingman Daily Miner. Kingman, Arizona: Western News&Info, Inc. pp. 8–9. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  28. Nancy H. Hornberger (1997). Indigenous Literacies in the Americas: Language Planning from the Bottom Up. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 95–. ISBN 978-3-11-015217-3. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  29. "Profile : Leanne Hinton - Linguistics Department, UC Berkeley". Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  30. "Native Tongues Untied". Against the Grain: A Program about Politics, Society and Ideas. KPFA Pacifica Radio. 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
  31. "Leanne Hinton, LSA 213, Language Revitalization". 2009 Linguistic Institute, Linguistic Structure and Language Ecologies. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
  32. "AILDI History", American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI), Tucson, Arizona, 2015, archived from the original on June 22, 2016, retrieved July 5, 2016
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  34. Ahenakew, F., Blair, H., & Fredeen, S. (1994). Aboriginal languages policy and planning in Canada. Muskeg Lake, SK: Government of Canada , First Nations: Submission to Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
  35. Ahenakew, F., & Wolfart, H. C. (eds.). (1992). Kohkominawak otacimowiniwawa: Our grandmothers’ lives as told in their own words. Saskatoon, SK: Fifth House
  36. Blair, H., Paskemin, D., & McGilvery, F. (2006). "Intergenerational language transmission at the Canadian Indigenous Languages & Literacy Development Institute Cree Immersion day camp." In J. Roy (Ed.), Proceedings: AWASIS 2006 Journal (pp. 23-26). Saskatoon, SK: Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation.
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  41. Ottmann, Jacqueline; Abel, Jennifer; Flynn, Darin; Bird, Stan (August 2007), "A Survey of the Literature on Aboriginal Language Learning and Teaching" (PDF), Alberta Education, The Language Research Centre (LRC), University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, retrieved July 11, 2016
  42. "2016 CILLDI Summer Program", CILLDI, Edmonton, Alberta, 2016, archived from the original on July 27, 2016, retrieved July 11, 2016
  43. "CILLDE online catalogue", Library Thing, nd, retrieved July 10, 2016
  44. Flynn, Darin (2016), Linguistic analysis for indigenous language revitalization, Calgary, Alberta, retrieved July 5, 2016
  45. Lachler, Jordan; Rice, Sally (March 12, 2015). Developing metalinguistic competence at CILLDI. 4th International Conference on Language Documentation and Conservation (ICLDC). Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  46. Fredeen, S., & Blair, H. (2009, March). Supporting Indigenous language activism through education: The Indigenous Languages Community Linguist Certificate. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Association of Applied Linguistics, Denver, CO.
  47. Sally Rice, Benjamin Tucker, Christopher Cox, & Bruce Starlight. "Linguistic training in an endangered language community: The University of Alberta’s Community Linguist Certificate program and the Tsuu T’ina Nation."Conference on Endangered Languages and Cultures of Native America (CELCNA). 27–29 March 2009. University of Utah
  48. Rice, Sally; Tucker, Benjamin V. (nd), Tsuut'ina Gunaha Institute, archived from the original on November 4, 2015, retrieved July 11, 2016
  49. Anderson, Drew; Brown, Andrew (July 3, 2016). "Tsuut'ina Nation aims to revitalize its language by targeting its children: Few of the 2,100 registered citizens are fluent speakers, but with technology and teaching, change may come". CBC News. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
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