Marianne Ignace, Simon Fraser University

The survival of indigenous languages in northwestern North America, one of the “hotbeds” of linguistic diversity on the continent, is hanging by a thread, following a century of what the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission has called cultural genocide combined with other factors of oppression and neglect. Based on more than thirty years of community engaged research with First Nations language communities in BC, Dr. Ignace will discuss the causes and implications of indigenous language loss from a variety of perspectives, including what is at stake for the future of linguistic and biocultural diversity. However, in recent years, Indigenous language activists and learners have resorted to new and enterprising ways of revitalizing competence and use of their ancestral languages in our communities. A discussion of new approaches and achievements gives hope, but also invites us to re-think what the future of Indigenous languages will hold.