Native languages promoted

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Native peoples' languages are receiving a boost in the Northwest Territories in March as a result of a new award program announced in the Legislative Assembly by Premier Don Morin.

Aboriginal Languages Month and Francophone Week is an offshoot of the week originally designated by the Assembly of First Nations to recognize, preserve and advance First Nations languages, said Official Languages Group spokeswoman Elizabet Biscaye.

According to a brochure distributed by the Official Languages Unit in the N.W.T., the premier established the Community Language Leader Award to encourage people who "are committed to promoting the daily use of their language."

The award is meant to promote the daily use of Chipewyan, Cree, Dogrib, Gwich'in, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, Inuinnaqtun, North Slavey, South Slavey and French. These will be grouped under three main categories: Dene and Cree, Inuktitut and French, for the purpose of judging.

A 1991 census supplied by the Official Languages Unit lists 18,005 speakers of Inuktitut; 2,825 Slavey; 2,385 Dogrib; 755 Chipewyan; 310 Gwich'in and 330 Cree. It also lists 3,575 French speakers and 52,345 English speakers in the N.W.T.

"Any resident of the Northwest Territories who promotes the use of their language in their daily activities on a volunteer basis may be nominated for the award," the brochure states. English is not included because it is the predominant language in the N.W.T. Biscaye estimates that about half the population speaks English in addition to an Aboriginal language.

The premier will appoint a five-member panel to select finalists from each official Aboriginal language and French. Three panelists are confirmed so far: Joel Tremblay, the language co-ordinator for the Department of Justice; Philip Mackenzie, the language committee co-ordinator with a school language centre that teaches Dogrib; and Ron Cleary, a linguist and North Slavey speaker from Deline, N.W.T.

The finalists' names will be resubmitted for consideration for the Community Language Leader Award.

Each winner will receive a plaque and $250. The award recipients will also each select a recognized group involved in language development to receive a $250 donation made in their name.

By Feb. 7, about 25 nominations had been submitted, but every language group had not yet submitted a name. Nominations closed Feb. 9.

The Language Services Branch in Edmonton is not undertaking a similar initiative, according to the manger of international languages with Alberta Education, John Sokolowski.

"What we have doe to promote Aboriginal Languages in our department," Sokolowski said, "is we have put out a little information pamphlet to say what Aboriginal languages are taught and where." He said people can call him at (403) 427-0929 if they want the pamphlet.