Growing the Fire Within

Exploring Innovative and Successful Adult Language Learning Methods in Indigenous Communities in Canada and the US

Indigenous peoples have worked for decades to revitalize their languages. Much of the focus has been on children, but also critical are programs for the “missing generations” of adults who did not grow up with their Indigenous languages.

Leading scholars and practitioners of Indigenous language revitalization gathered at the University of Victoria in February 2020 to ask: How can we support Indigenous adults who are becoming new speakers of their languages?

Read the report from the gathering here.

Chew, K. A. B., Manatowa-Bailey, J., Lukaniec, M., McIvor, O., & Linn, M. (2020, October). Growing the fire within: Creating new adult speakers of Indigenous languages [Video].

https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/handle/1828/12280

For more information about adult Indigenous language methods and programs represented at the gathering, visit:

• Accelerated Second Language Acquisition (ASLA)
• Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival
• Cherokee Master-Apprentice Program
• Kahnawà:ke Education Centre
• Kwi Awt Stelmexw
• Myaamia Center
• Root-Word Method & Onkwawen:na Kentyohkwa
• Salish Fluency Transfer System and Curriculum
• W̱SÁNEĆ School Board
• Where are Your Keys?

If you are seeking training to support your language revitalization work, visit:

• American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI)
• Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI)
• Indigenous Language Institute (ILI)
• Northwest Indian Language Institute (NILI)
• University of Victoria’s Department of Indigenous Education