What is the status of BC First nations languages? - First Peoples

Why are we losing languages in B.C. ?Firstly, for the last few generations, most childrenhave not been learning their First Nations languageas a mother tongue from their parents or grandparentswho are residential school survivors or areaffected by residential school traumas. These survivorsof residential schools still do not feel safe tospeak the language or to pass it on to their children.Secondly, public schools in B.C. do not educate childrenin their First Nations language, and there is nocomprehensive policy to do so.In addition to government policies, social and industrialforces have historically influenced First Nationspeople to speak English. For example, around the1950s many First Nations people began to leavetheir homes for seasonal jobs, in canneries forexample, where they were required to speak Englishto communicate with employers, co-workers and forday-to-day interactions. 7 Today, to be able to takepart in mainstream society, from daily tasks suchas going to the post office to buying milk to checkingone’s email, even elders, who have retainedtheir First Nations language despite the residentialschool system, are in the habit of speaking English.Culturally, English society also has come to dominateFirst Nations communities. For example,housing standards on reserves have separated thetraditional three-generation families that used tolive under one roof. Consequently, children often livewith just their English-speaking parents, and do notspend time with their grandparents who might betheir only source of their ancestral language. Media,particularly television, has also replaced interactionswith elders and family. Instead of talking with theirelder generations, young people spend time beingbombarded with television, internet, radio, music,magazines and newspapers in English, and not intheir First Nations language. 8B.C. First Nations language loss has many deeprootedhistorical causes, but this loss continuestoday due to modern day societal barriers and oftenunderlying marginalization and discrimination. 9Some causes of continued language loss are:• The B.C. public education system often fails FirstNations children by neglecting to include andhonour First Nations languages and cultures incurricula.• First Nations community members lack opportunities,resources and support to teach, learn, useand maintain their First Nations languages.• Governments provide inadequate support and infrastructurefor First Nations language programsin schools and communities.• Poverty, abuse and substance abuse issues takeprecedence over language revitalization.• Many First Nations people live in urban centres,and are not surrounded by fellow communitymembers who can use their ancestral language.• Many First Nations languages have not yet createdwords and phrases for modern ideas andobjects, and are therefore not considered useful.• First Nations people, languages and cultures arelargely excluded from government, commerce,industry, arts, higher education and media.• Many people hold the attitude that speaking onlyEnglish is somehow better for children to be successfulin today’s society. The myth exists thatbilingual children lag behind their monolingualpeers.The influence of English as the dominant languagehas increased over the years, and English is now, inmost cases the only language used by First Nationspeople.7,8Ignace, M. Handbook for Aboriginal Language Planning in British Columbia (Vancouver: FirstNations Education Steering Committee, 1998).9Norris, M., Aboriginal Languages in Canada: Emerging Trends and Perspectives on SecondLanguage Acquisition (Canadian Social Trends, Statistics Canada — Catalogue No. 11-008,2007).10Report on the Status of B.C. First Nations Languages