You may find yourself asking the question “why should I be teaching this?” This question is one that many new educators may first have when entering a classroom, or even more experienced teachers may be asking themselves. An important part of social studies is acknowledging what is missing and what needs to be added in. Indigenous language teachings is an area that has great potential, and could even become its own subject area in the future.
When residential schools were implemented in Canada, they took away many cultural aspects of learning from Indigenous children. Their traditions, ceremonies and languages were stolen from them. They were forced to assimilate and learn English and sometimes French too. As time goes on, more is being unveiled about how much of their identity was lost through residential schools. One of the biggest parts they have lost is their traditional Indigenous languages.
With multiple generations being discouraged from learning and speaking their native languages, many Indigenous groups have few who still speak in their native tongue. Generations worth of stories and traditions are on the verge of being lost forever if the language is not remembered.
It is important to teach about Indigenous languages to help preserve their culture, acknowledge and explore our past to reconcile moving forward. B.C is the most diverse province in Canada, with over 30+ Indigenous languages spoken here. By teaching and acknowledging their languages, it “benefits our shared history as a country” (Onowa McIvor, 2013). If you are interested in learning more about the importance of Indigenous language revitalization, I highly encourage you to watch the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uvp4pBSPKg