(Ottawa, ON) – September 9, 2022 – The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is pleased to announce the release of episode 4 with Gabrielle Bird of the Atahkakoop Cree Nation in Treaty 6. Gabrielle currently resides in Regina with her family and is enrolled in a Social Work program at the University of Regina. Accessibility in language is one of the big barriers Gabrielle identifies. Gabrielle sees the need for more resources and programs in the community for fostering engagement and learning of the Cree language. Though the learning journey can be challenging and difficult, she says it is worth it.

Gabrielle speaks about how the variance in northern and southern dialects of the Cree language in Saskatchewan has made it difficult and sometimes a barrier to her speaking it in Regina. One reason she sees the lack of fluency in her community in Regina, is because the basic needs of community members are still not being met. Of her travels back to her home community, she shares: “Up here, when you hit PA (Prince Albert) is when you hear Cree and Dene being spoken freely. So that’s when I know I’m home.” Noting the different inflections and pronunciations of words between the north and south, she says sometimes it can be discouraging in her learning journey. But that doesn’t stop her.  One of her favorite methods to learning the language is by using it and through repetition. Being able to speak it at home, with family around the dinner table is a great opportunity for that. Through the pandemic, Gabrielle praises the efforts of the Assembly of  Seven Generations, who hosted a Zoom Cree language class and called it a great approach to learning and engaging learners.

Voices from the Land is an Indigenous Languages Revitalization Project funded by Canadian Heritage. Over the course of the winter months of 2022, host Gordon Spence spoke with Indigenous language teachers, adult learners and parents and caretakers of children learning their Indigenous language. From Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe); to Nehiyaw (Cree); the Michif language; Kanien’kéha (Mohawk); Onʌyoteˀa·ká (Oneida); and Dȁn k’e (Southern Tutchone), language learners, teachers and parents across Turtle Island share their insights and experiences. The goal of these 21 interviews was to gain a sense of the barriers and successes to learning one’s own language. We invite you to hear their voices and learn from their truth, as the languages have taught them so much.

The LHF is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada for over 22 years. LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and impacts on 7 generations of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) children, their families and communities from attending Residential and Day Schools and subsequent Sixties Scoop. By fostering empathy and understanding, LHF encourages people to address discrimination and injustice and contributes to the equity, dignity, and respectful treatment of Indigenous Peoples.

The LHF has more than 25 educational exhibitions that promote awareness of Indigenous history that are free to borrow and is working on making exhibitions available online. LHF also has curricula for K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training, and Podcasts all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, etc. in order to offer solutions on how to be an ally. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding so as to eliminate racism against Indigenous Peoples.