Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/73121
JULY 2012 • PAGE 19 Message from the Premier of Manitoba GREG SELINGER The foundation for preserving any culture is language. The importance of language was expressed in the words of American writer Rita Mae Brown, who said: "Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going." According to a recent report by the First Nations Information Governance, Aboriginal languages may be on the road to recovery. The report found that use of traditional languages is increasing among First Na- tions children – to 36.2 per cent from 22.3 per cent. More than half could understand and or speak their traditional language and four out of five surveyed recognized the importance of learning to speak their native language. A few years ago, researchers predicted only three of Manitoba's seven Aboriginal lan- guages – Cree, Ojibwe and Dakota – would survive beyond the 21st century. Working with First Nations leaders and educators, we are helping to preserve, maintain and promote the rich cultural heritage and languages of Aboriginal people. The legacy of the residential schools that were established to destroy Aboriginal culture and language is still with us, but these sur- vey results give us hope. Today there is once again pride and interest among Aboriginal youth in learning their languages and tradi- tions but, in many cases, a painful past has resulted in a gap in traditional knowledge that needs to be bridged. We still have far to go on the road to recov- ery and reconciliation. Over 150,000 First Na- tions, Métis and Inuit students were separat- ed from their families and forbidden to speak their languages or practice their traditions because of the residential school system. We can do more and we are doing more. On June 21, Education Minister Nancy Allan announced new materials to help high school students to learn about impacts of res- idential school abuse. To further healing and reconciliation, we must first understand this legacy, which continues to affect the Aborigi- nal community today. The learning materials include a video his- tory of residential schools in Manitoba, inter- views with residential schools survivors, the formal apology to residential school survivors made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on behalf of the Government of Canada on June 11, 2008, the formal apology made by all three Manitoba party leaders in the legislative chamber the next day, and responses from Traditional adoption in the 21st Century: A love story My mother was an Elder; she was funny, warm, kind and sweet. Linda Gordon, later Saskosky and still later Papequashe at age four was sent to St. Phillips Residential School. She became a chronic runaway, despite her hair shaved off and locked in closets for days on end without food or ac- cess to a toilet, at every available opportu- nity she headed across the fields for home. My mother was labeled unmanageable and was shipped further away to Gordon's Residential School. She told me once and only once what happened to her while she was in the "care" of the school. It breaks my heart when I remember her story. I loved my mother, if possible I loved her even more when this sweet, wonderful woman rose out of the ashes of alcoholism and abuse to become the woman she was destined to become, an Elder with a pur- pose. Before cancer took her life, far too early at 64, we were sitting on chairs on her deck gazing at the countless stars in the sky, in a soft, tearful voice, she apologized for my childhood. She was a Residential School Survivor, there was no need for her to apol- ogize, I understood. The fallout from the residential schools and 60s scoop continue to be felt through- out the generations. One of our community's saving graces is our Elders, those spiritual guides who carry wisdom, compassion, the keepers of our culture and traditions. They also tell amazing stories; each story has a lesson or meaning attached. I have been fortunate to meet a number of Elders who personify the elements of our seven teach- ings. Two Elders, a married couple who are well respected and loved by the community met me for coffee one day and told me a story about love, hope, and sacrifice. Traditional language increasing Aboriginal leaders. A guide with suggested lesson plans and ideas for teachers is also included. This new initiative builds on years of teamwork and investments with other gov- ernments, communities, organizations and educators. In 2004, Manitoba joined six other provinc- es and territories to launch the Western and Northern Canadian Protocol website on Ab- original languages and cultures. The site was developed as a collaborative effort involving the governments of Manitoba, Saskatche- wan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon Terri- tory, the Northwest Territories and, Nunavut. The website provides a comprehensive range of Aboriginal language resources from curriculum development and teaching guides to the history of how various languages de- veloped. Teachers, students, parents and the public have access to information about lan- guage structure, grammar, pronunciation and verb tenses. Learning tools such as songs and stories that have been translated are also available. Our government also supports Aborigi- nal Languages Manitoba, a non-profit orga- nization that has worked since 1984 to pre- www.firstnationsvoice.com Or for a subscription call Missed an issue? Check out our archive at 697-7598 serve Aboriginal languages with the help of the Council of Language Elders, community members and educators. The organization, one of only a few of its kind in the country, works to preserve and promote Manitoba's seven Aboriginal languages: Cree, Dene, Dakota, Michif, Inuktituq, Ojibwe (Saulteaux) and Oji-Cree, a dialect spoken in Island Lake. Additionally, in 2010, Manitoba passed new legislation that officially recognizes those languages as the Aboriginal languages of Manitoba. Manitoba is blessed to have a strong Ab- original heritage and by continuing to work with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communi- ties and citizens we will continue to preserve this heritage for our children and future gen- erations. They are friends with a happily married couple in their 40s who are the proud and loving parents of four rumbustious boys. The mother deeply loves her sons, but felt her family would be complete with a little girl. I suppose after four boys in a row, giving it one try for a girl would appear to be play- ing against the odds. Shortly afterwards, the Elders' daughter told them about a friend who was pregnant, alone and in desperate need of advice. The young woman recognised she was not prepared to become a parent. The Elders listened and comforted her telling her that they would support her and her decision. The young woman after much soul search- ing decided adoption was an option and chose to carry the baby to term. A week passed and by chance, the Elders ran into the couple with four boys. They decided to have lunch and as they caught up with one another's lives, the mother of the four boys once again talked of her desire for a little girl and possibly exploring adoption. The Elders told them about the young woman who was planning to place her baby up for adoption. Afterwards both couples went their separate ways. The couple decided they wanted and were prepared to roll the dice, but with the child the young woman was carrying. The gender somehow did not seem to matter anymore, boy or girl. A new life in their home was enough. So they con- tacted the Elders and the Elders contacted the young woman. They met and bonded, and when it was time for the ultrasound, the wife was present. To everyone's surprise and delight, the baby was a girl. The young woman was courageous to recognize she was not prepared to be a parent. The couple had resources, a home filled with love and there were two compas- sionate Elders who facilitated a legal and traditional adoption. I wish I could say they all lived happily ever after, but that only hap- pens in fairy tales. The story the Elders told me ended after the birth of the baby girl and the couple and the young woman remain- ing friends, staying in close contact. I hope it becomes the fairy tale. My mother, Linda Gordon-Saskosky- taught me before you can Papequashe, love someone, you have to love yourself, to be responsible for another life; you have to responsible for yourself and sometimes, you need to be courageous enough to rec- ognize the right decisions can break your heart. But, sooner or later with enough time, faith, and hope, love always wins. ~ Rhonda Powers