Page 31 - Six Nations Community Plan 2019

Measuring Progress

• Languages reaching critical mass for survival • More community services and signage provided
• Haudenosaunee languages spoken more as an ordinary in the languages
means of communication • More schools teaching Haudenosaunee first,
English as secondary
• Classes offered in all six languages
Key Challenges And Concerns

• Language schools struggle for support, stigma that graduates aren’t as successful in the modern world
• Language classes are becoming more available in community and surrounding schools, but often taught in a basic and
repetitive way that does not nurture and build skills
• Lack of language skills among leaders in community organizations
• Language teachers often have to make sacrifices in pay
• Working to preserve six unique languages can be a challenge, but also an opportunity as it makes us diverse, there are
commonalities, and we have a lot of momentum as a big community

Suggested Lead Partners

• Language Commission • Polytech • Governance • Deyohaha:ge (Indigenous
• Schools • Woodland Cultural Centre • New/emerging orgs. Knowledge Centre)

Timeline

OBJECTIVES STATUS IN 2019
Create a language speaker Woodland Cultural Centre did a speaker list in 2014 but was only 1st language
monitoring program speakers. Needs to start monitoring progress and growth of new learners.

Explore new technologies to Opportunity to embrace technology instead of seeing it as opposing our culture. Polytech
expand language has an introductory app in Mohawk and Cayuga.

SHORT Focus on adult learners and Language Commission is making adult learners its focus to create speakers that will
teach at home. Once critical mass is developed, focus on early years learning. Polytech
(2019-2024) creating teachers beginning a 3 year program to create Cayuga speakers.
Adapt existing language Language Commission has developed standards to ensure language learners build on
programs to be incremental skills, has not reached the programs in schools yet.

Document and archive
Haudenosaunee Languages for Robust and quality documentation will be vital to the overall language preservation
and revitalization effort. Indigenous Knowledge Centre has initiated archiving to
ongoing and future revitalization achieve this.
efforts
One in place which exposes youth at very early age but need more space, teachers and
Expand language nest initiative
resources to expand.

MEDIUM Highlight language learner Highlight successes of graduates from immersion programs and of regular families
(2025-2029) success stories committing and succeeding to learn the language.

Enhance Language instruction Language instruction is available, but not held to a standard of succession over years.
in neighbouring high schools Need to explore advocacy to exempt our students from competing requirements.

Emerging as a priority of the lifelong learning education to have an on- reserve high
On reserve language high school with a substantial immersion component, to build upon the immersion high
school
LONG school offered through Kawenní:io.
(2030-2039) Require employees of public
organizations to learn a Will require long term support, time and resources so that services can be provided in
the languages.
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