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The Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) once again has the honour of hosting an introductory language course facilitated by Ktunaxa elder Alfred Joseph and Mara Nelson.
We invite you to join us online for eight consecutive Monday evenings at 7 p.m. starting on January 20. Learn the sounds, words and some history of the Ktunaxa language. This course is open to everyone, and is designed for you to garner skills that will enable you to carry Ktunaxa language forward to your classrooms, communities and on the land.
Ktunaxa Language Learning Facilitator Mara Nelson shared that, “As we spend the upcoming eight weeks learning Ktunaxa ?A·k?ukaqwum, we will not only learn the sounds and foundations of this beautiful language isolated, we will also be able to learn the names that were given to the plants, places and beings that have always existed in this place we call home. These names are full of rich-enduring language that describe so much more than an animal, town or place.
We hope that all participants will be able go forward, describing through breaking down the word, why a colour like kamakci lends itself to orange or yellow, and just how permeating that can be.
As we walk through the seasons, our attendees will be able to see how this living, breathing language only amplifies the exquisiteness around us and how it lends to us being more compassionate stewards of the land that has been home to Ktunaxa since time immemorial.”
Indigenous languages carry connections to lands, ancestors, traditions, and contain ecological knowledge crucial for sustainable living, medicinal practices, and traditional storytelling, enriching our collective wisdom. By supporting Indigenous language revitalization efforts, we not only preserve linguistic diversity but also uphold Indigenous Peoples’ fundamental rights to their languages and cultures.
Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are foundational to outdoor and environmental learning, and that learning that language of the local land is a critical part of deepening knowledge and understanding. Non-Indigenous participants can take steps towards reconciliation by participating in language courses as a way to uplift language revitalization and deepen their own understanding of local place.
Registration link: https://outdoorlearning.com/event More Ktunaxa learning resources: https://cbeen.ca/ktunaxa-resources