Youth Bring Vitality To First Nations Languages

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Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

June 19th, 2012

Although many of the statistics in the recently released First Nations health survey are negative, there is some encouraging news too, according to Jane Gray, National Projects Manager for the First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS).

She points to the vitality that youth are bringing to our languages.
According to the latest RHS, 86% of youth (12 to 17 years old) living in nearly every First Nation and northern community, felt that learning their own Indigenous language was "very important" or "somewhat important."

In fact, more than half (56.3%) of First Nations youth across Canada reported speaking or understanding their own languages.

The RHS findings indicate that while pressures continue to threaten First Nations languages, youth on-reserve and in northern communities are committed to learning their own languages.

More than one-third of First Nations youth said they spoke their own languages sometime every day. "Our survey shows that First Nations youth seem to have a hunger for, a longing to learn their own languages," says Jane Gray.

"More than 4 of every 5 First Nations youth feel that learning their own First Nations languages is either 'very important' or 'somewhat important' to themselves and to their First Nation. . .Young people have been telling us this for some time now at meetings and gatherings. Our Health survey shows that this isn't just wishful thinking. It's a reality, and it's being driven by those First Nations youth."

The Regional Health Survey is produced by the First Nations Information Governance Centre, an Ottawa-based non-governmental organization.

( Turtle Island Native Network notes that speaking an Indigenous language has been linked to youth wellbeing: http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/ ... 038#p13038 )

Read More About the First Nations Regional Health Survey
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/ ... 091#p15091