Say It First


Indigenous Language Revitalization

Trailblazing Indigenous language program brings Ojibwa into schools

A new language platform aims to create the next generation of Anishinaabemowin speakers across the Northwest.

Written by Eric Shih, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A new way of learning Anishinaabemowin is rolling out to schools across the Northwest.

The new web and app-based language learning platform was developed in partnership by the Seven Generations Education Institute, the Rainy River District School Board, and SayITFirst, a company which uses technology and community participation to facilitate Indigenous language learning in Canada.

The program is designed to engage students by giving them a foundation for Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwa language. It uses a campground setting where users complete activities and unlock achievements and tasks.

Read the entire article on nwonewswatch.com

SayITFirst founder, Mike Parkhill, in an interview on CBC Superior Morning.

SayItFirst
Language revitalization is an important effort happening across many First Nations communities.
In Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario, one way it's happening is through a platform called Anishinaabemodaa.
It was created in partnership with Seven Generations Education Institute, SayITFirst, and the Rainy River District School Board.
The learning tool was rolled out in 68 classrooms last year, with plans to expand to more later this year.
Hear from the founder of SayITFirst Mike Parkhill in an interview on CBC Superior Morning.

More than words: Indigenous language is a world view

Child with Headress

The Charity Report (July 20, 2020)
Language isn't just about definitions for certain things and grammatical rules. It reflects an entire worldview, shaped by centuries of culture and history.

“Language is ‘a conveyor of culture’ and the means by which knowledge, skills, and cultural values are expressed and maintained,” wrote the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) in its 2016 paper, Culture and Language as Social Determinants of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health.

“Language maintenance and continuity are critical to revitalizing culture and to the survival of any Indigenous people.” 

Take the word for the Internet in Inuktitut as an example. Ikiaqqijjut means my body stays here, but my soul goes to visit other places. 

Read Full Article at https://www.thecharityreport.com/features/more-than-words-indigenous-language-is-a-world-view/ 

New book translated to eight languages

book translation eight languages

 

The Honourable Lieutenant Governor Thomas Molloy, Elder Betty McKenna and Mike Parkhill do a public reading announcing 5 new books in each of Plains Cree, Woodland Cree, Swampy Cree, Saulteaux, Dene, Lakota, Nakota and Dakota. This is a Prince's Charities Canada project funded by the Canadian Department of Heritage, supported by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre and the First Nations University of Canada. SayITFirst would like to give special thanks to Garry Anaquod, Dr. Arok Wolvengrey, Chantal Marion and Astrid-Maria Chiarallo.
 
 

New Indigenous languages initiative provides children’s books to sick kids

Mike Parkhill and Minister of The Department of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Mélanie Joly.
Mike Parkhill with Minister of The Department of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Mélanie Joly. 

Prince’s Charities Canada (PCC) is pleased to announce a partnership with Canadian Heritage and the Manitoba Children’s Hospital Indigenous Language Program to produce five illustrated children’s books in Cree, Ojibwe, Oji-Cree and Inuktitut.

The books will focus on themes of childhood development and health care and be available to children at the hospital. They will include phonetics and the English translation and be recorded in each of the four Indigenous languages.

Prince’s Charities Canada has been working with community groups on preserving and revitalizing Indigenous languages since 2014. “I am immensely proud of this new project, which helps Indigenous children deal with the struggles of illness while learning their traditional language and culture,” said HRH The Prince of Wales. “I hope that these books provide an equal measure of comfort and pride to the families supported by the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.”

Read the entire article at http://www.princescharities.ca/news/new-indigenous-languages-initiative-provides-childrens-books-to-sick-kids/

New book aims to help Indigenous kids with hospital-visit anxiety

book aims to help indigenous kids with hospital visit anxiety
Learning a language re-enforces self-identity,” Parkhill said, and he wants children to do so at an early age.

The creators of a new children’s book want to help ease stress for kids coming from remote locations to Winnipeg for their first visit to the hospital. The book, Nindooshkinagadenima My New Friend, is a collaboration between author and illustrator Mike Parkhill and the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. The book will be available in English and three Indigenous languages—Cree, Oji-Cree and Ojibwe. The book was developed to help those languages thrive and to educate children about going to the hospital. It addresses some of the anxiety that children can feel on their first trip through the story of Dolly the deer, who twisted her hoof and needs to go to a Winnipeg hospital.

Continued at http://www.metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/2017/10/10/new-book-aims-to-help-indigenous-kids-with-hospital-visit-anxiety.html

New book helps kids from remote communities feel more comfortable heading to the hospital

My New Friend, a book developed by the Children's Hospital Foundation and written in collaboration with Canadian children’s author and illustrator Mike Parkhill, has been translated into three Indigenous languages to help kids cope with going to the hospital.  My New Friend, a book developed by the Children's Hospital Foundation and written in collaboration with Canadian children’s author and illustrator Mike Parkhill, has been translated into three Indigenous languages to help kids cope with going to the hospital.
My New Friend, a book developed by the Children's Hospital Foundation and written in collaboration with Canadian children’s author and illustrator Mike Parkhill, has been translated into three Indigenous languages to help kids cope with going to the hospital.

When kids from northern communities have to fly south to see a doctor it can be scary to see the tall buildings and bustling streets for the first time.

A new book, translated into three Indigenous languages, is helping make the journey a bit more understandable.

My New Friend was developed by the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba to help Indigenous children understand their fears and anxieties about going to the hospital.

Continued at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/book-indigenous-languages-hospitals-1.4347971

 

Prince Charles's charities work to undo past wrongs against Indigenous people through reconciliation

These three books in Indigenous languages are part of a series produced in partnership with Prince’s Charities Canada, publisher SayITFirst and First Nations University.

Prince Charles's charities work to undo past wrongs against Indigenous people through reconciliation

When the Prince of Wales visits Canada this week to celebrate the country's 150th birthday, his charitable organization hopes to leave a legacy behind him that addresses some of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. Miriam Katawazi explains the work Prince's Charities Canada is doing to promote Indigenous languages, job creation and nutrition.

(Three of SayITFirsts books are featured in the article)

Continued at https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-150/prince-charles-canada-150-charity-indigenous/article35476084/

 

Children's Book that Prince Charles Wrote Is An Arctic Tale

old man pangnirtung prince charles

Years ago Prince Charles created a children’s story for his younger brothers, Andrew and Edward, who were bored during a vacation to the royal family’s Scottish home of Balmoral. Called The Old Man of Lochnagar, it tells the tale of a grumpy Old Man who retreats into a cave, only to discover it’s an entrance to the Gorm pixie world. Published in 1980, with watercolour illustrations by Hugh Casson, it was an instant classic.

Now, nearly 40 years later, the tale has been re-imagined and published in Inuktitut, thanks to Mike Parkhill of SayITFirst, an organization that seeks to promote Indigenous languages by creating children’s books in languages ranging from Mi’Kmaw and Malisette to Woodlands Cree and Southern Tutchone.

Continued at http://writeroyalty.com/the-childrens-book-that-prince-charles-wrote-is-now-an-arctic-tale/

 

Indigenous-language children's books launched in Saskatchewan

I Am So Thirsty in Saulteaux

 

The First Nations University has partnered with Prince’s Charities Canada to launch Indigenous-language children’s books in Saskatchewan.

Written by SayITFirst Inc. and translated by the First Nations University faculty and alumni, the books aim to revitalize Cree languages through youth.

The five books – written in Swampy, Woods, and Plains Cree dialects – are aimed at children aged four to eight. The books target significant childhood development topics and bring up key lessons that are relevant to both children and adults.

Read the entire article: http://regina.ctvnews.ca/indigenous-circle/indigenous-language-children-s-books-launched-in-saskatchewan-1.3323193

First Nations University project brings Cree children's books to Sask

First Nations University project brings Cree children's books to Sask

The First Nations University of Canada is working with Prince's Charities Canada to help revitalize Indigenous languages in Saskatchewan.

The project has had five Indigenous language children's books written by SayITFirst Inc. published.

The books were translated and edited by university faculty and alumni. The five books were written in Cree dialects of Swampy, Woods and Plain, and are targeted at children from the ages of four to eight.

 

Read the entire article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/cree-books-first-nations-university-of-canada-1.4021228

Royal visit has lasting impact for Indigenous students in the Yukon

Royal visit has lasting impact for Indigenous students in the Yukon
Student John Allen with his new laptop, just before meeting the Royal couple

The Royal Visit to the Yukon has left a lasting impact for students of the Dusk’a Head Start Family Learning Centre, where 29 children received laptops and books from One Laptop per Child (OLPC) Canada, the Prince’s Charities of Canada and TD Bank Group.

Read the entire article: http://nationtalk.ca/story/royal-visit-has-lasting-impact-for-indigenous-students-in-the-yukon

Revitalisation of Indigenous Languages, Through Mike Parkhill of SayITFirst, Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division)

Mike Parkhill & the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada

Mike Parkhill, Founder of SayITFirst, receives the Honour of the Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division) from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. SayITFirst is an organization dedicated to helping First Nation communities and Elders breathe new life into Canada’s Native languages. Mike has shown commitment to supporting minority cultures to take ownership in rebuilding their self identity. Photo credit: MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2016.

Mike Parkhill, founder of SayITFirst, receives the Honour of the Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division) from His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. SayITFirst is an organization dedicated to helping First Nation communities and Elders breathe new life into Canada’s Native languages. Mike has shown commitment to supporting minority cultures to take ownership in rebuilding their self identity.

The Meritorious Service Decorations celebrate Canadians who have performed an exceptional deed or activity that brings honour to Canada. The Civil Division recognizes remarkable contributions in many different fields of endeavour. The contributions can be innovative, set an example for others to follow, or improve the quality of life of a community.

In 2009, Mike Parkhill left a senior position at Microsoft Canada to tackle a fundamental social and educational issue: revitalizing dying First Nations languages in Canada. His interest began with a Microsoft project to modernize the Inuktitut language. When Mike learned about his ability to make a difference supporting marginalized sectors, his interest became a full-time passion by founding SayITFirst. Mr. Parkhill was also awarded the Order of Ontario in January of this year in recognition of the work of SayITFirst http://www.sayitfirst.ca.

“I have always supported the underdog throughout my personal and professional lives.” When I became witness to the tenacity of Indigenous people and the challenges they were facing, I needed to stop what I was doing and apply my knowledge to help. Deep down, I had no choice. My friends have taken that help and made it their own."

Mike's work has supported the work of others to change the paradigm of what is possible, using technology to aid a new generation in developing their own self-identity. Studies show that building self-identity at an early age can proactively protect against teenage suicides, truancy, gang activity and substance abuse.

The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, bestowed the honour to the new appointees during an investiture ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax. The event was streamed live online at http://www.gg.ca on July 13 and was also broadcast live on Eastlink TV.

For more information about SayITFirst, contact Mike Parkhill

Media Release: Revitalisation of Indigenous Languages, Through Mike Parkhill of SayITFirst, Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division)

Order of Ontario Ceremony

Mike Parkhill & Brent Tookenay, Order of Ontario Ceremony

Mike Parkhill, SayITFirst and Brent Tookenay, CEO of Seven Generations institute

 

Order of Ontario Recipients 2016

 Order of Ontario Recipients, 2015
 

The Elders Speak

Brent Tookenay-CEO of Seven Generations Educational Institute

 

“SayITFirst has been a real catalyst for Seven Generations Educational Institute and our partnership with the Rainy River District School Board.  It has allowed us to become a driving force in the revitalization of Native Languages.”