Reclaiming the language: Indigenous community in Sudbury connects through lost and forgotten words

CBC

3 days ago

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Surrounded by the sounds of nature on N'Swakomok sacred grounds, a group gathered recently to speak, learn and bring the words of their ancestors back to life during a language camp.
"Being here back home on the land is so meaningful it resonates from within," said Amelia McComber
McComber, the Cultural Resource Coordinator for the N'Swakomok Native Friendship Centre, has both Kanien'kehá:ka (Kahnawà:ke) and Anishinaabe roots (Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation). She said organizing the event for the community was important for her.
"The potential of being here and learning the language on the land among known speakers, it's truly a gift," said McComber
She said that it is through understanding her community's interconnectedness with the earth and all the beings that surround them that the language of her people — Anishinaabemowin — is truly brought to life.
"Nothing we do is in isolation, we are always informed by seven generations behind us and we are impelled to consider the seven generations to come," said McComber
McComber said she is standing on the shoulders of her ancestors who fought hard to pass on knowledge to the future generations.
"That's what was taken. But it didn't get destroyed. So when I can come out on the land, and share with the people, and grow with the people, I am doing my part to keep the culture alive," said McComber
Among the many community members that gathered on the sacred grounds was elder Margaret Biidaanakwat. She was raised on Manitoulin Island on the Wiikwemkoong unceded territory and many see her as someone who speaks fluent in Anishinaabemowin. But Biidaanakwat said she sees herself still as someone who still has so much to learn.
"When I was young, this would have been in the 60's, my father would say at that time that we are speaking slang. New words come in and people are no longer able to speak the language." said Biidaanakwat.
She said a great deal of their belief system was lost due to colonialism.
"I hope that the native people who are young learn the importance of having that language, of having that sacredness that's within the language,"
She added for as long as their are people coming and ready to learn, elders like herself will continue to sit and pass on the knowledge for years to come.
"That is what this is, a spiral of life, our life, our culture that is held within the language,"