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.
Findings from two projects recently showed indications to consider importance of language and traditional culture for strengthened indigeneity and satisfying life among Sámi in various situations. These could be about facing various colonial violence, assimilation processes and challenges living with a 'disability' among Sámi in Sweden. For example Sámi rights to their language were insufficiently considered in the welfare state system.
In this paper I further examine extended pictures of meaning of Sámi language and culture among Sámi in challenging situations in everyday life. Follow-up interviews based on storytelling have been initiated aiming at sharing Sámi views on meaning of language and culture in various situations, and in taking back Sámi language. For several decades Sámi have been working for their language rights, and much work have been and still are voluntary unpaid work by engaged Sámi. This engagement should be taken into account in Swedish welfare system, for example by employing Sámi for working with development of welfare state services adjusted to Sámi, where Sámi languages are included.
Indigenous methodology, and ethics in indigenous research issues stated by UN are used. Findings from these interviews may contribute to continued work with decolonizing education, social services and health care offered to Sámi.
During a long time of colonization, with ongoing assimilation processes and suppression of Sámi language, a number of Sámi lost their language. Some maintained it protecting it within family, and not in public in order to avoid punishment. Others lost their language for one generation or more, which could lead to deep grief. Today, Sámi have legal rights to their languages, and currently a European Union committee is inspecting Sweden's work with Sámi language rights. In response to that inspection Sámi Parliament has suggested a special Sámi language Act to further protect Sámi languages.
