The 27th annual Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Symposium will be held June 14-18, 2021 at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada on the lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples.
As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, SILS27 will be taking place fully online in 2021.
SILS27will be hosted jointly by Queen’s University; Tsi Tyonnheht Onkwawenna Lanaguage and Cultural Centre, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory; and Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest (KILN) a part of the urban Indigenous community of Kingston, ON.
SILS27 will focus on global perspectives of Indigenous Language Revitalization, as reflected in the Symposium title, “Global Indigeneity: Language from the Four Directions.” In addition to bringing together voices from around the globe, this theme is inspired by the four directions teachings for understanding health and community in holistic perspective, encompassing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. With this in mind, the Program Committee has identified four broad topic areas:
Physical – Technologies and products for language revitalization
Mental – Insights and innovations in revitalization research
Emotional – Community connections for revitalization
Spiritual – Creative arts and language revitalization
For more information about the logistics and format of the conference, we invite you to visit the conference logistics page on our website, or to stop by the Social Rooms and Help Desk space on Zoom, which will be open throughout the conference. All Zoom links are available here on Sched—we ask that you don’t share them with anyone not registered for the conference, but anyone is welcome to register late for the conference, and will get access to Sched within 24 hours of registering.
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly of using Social Media to teach Cree or any other Indigenous Language.
I currently host a facebook group with over 16,000 members called #CreeSimonSays. Since 2015 I have been posting daily fun and memorable lessons of the Cree language and Indigenous Languages in general. I am the primary administrator and host with zero tolerance for language bullying and have learned lessons for similar language keepers/projects. I use social media like an inclusive classroom and welcome any new beginners that are interested in the Cree language dialects of Y, TH and N. As I always state, we have more in common then we have differences. The lessons are very similar to L and R dialects along with algonquin family languages like anishinabee. The lessons learned provide a spark in many people and make people connect with existing language speakers. It's a hub of connecting and instilling pride in our young people today that are looking to our Indigenous Languages ever more desperately.
