Blackfoot language program offered to Calgarians aims to keep Indigenous culture and oral traditions alive
For Kolton Running Crane, the Blackfoot language is more than just a way of communicating in his native tongue.
“I think language is a fundamental part of one’s identity and that’s what makes us unique as Indigenous people because every tribe has a different language and I think it’s important to know where we come from,” he said.
“The base of all indigenous cultures revolves around language.”
The 16-year-old from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana has been working with Azren Raju, the owner a language tutoring business called the Calgary Language Nerds over the past few months to develop a curriculum aimed at teaching the language online to others.
Raju had goals of his own to start teaching the language so he put the call out to Blackfoot speakers on Facebook and Running Crane answered within minutes.
“I had learned how the Glenbow Museum in Calgary was working on Blackfoot language revitalization efforts. I thought that was really cool and that I could use some of my knowledge about language learning to help,” Raju said.
“Together Kolton and I are now continuously building on the curriculum and making more resources because there are virtually no resources for learning Blackfoot, especially in comparison to French, Spanish or other more widely spoken languages.
An online Blackfoot language course complete with resources along with live and pre-recorded lessons for the general public will now be offered starting on Sept. 30.
You can sign up for the courses online.
LOCAL NON-PROFIT BENEFITS FROM LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Blackfoot language lessons taught online by Kolton Running Crane and The Calgary Language Nerds have already been taking place for the past two months at Katimavik – a non-profit group in Calgary which invites youth to gain life skills and work experience by contributing to their community.
Project leader Lily Lam says the group had been looking at adding Blackfoot lessons and finally found the opportunity.
She adds that much of the Blackfoot language was lost in Canada’s residential school system, but efforts to bring its roots back to the public are stronger than ever.
“This is something we really wanted to do for our house for quite some time,” Lam said.
“There is so much history and culture within this language that doesn’t get translated so learning it has really been a strong avenue for myself and the participants to gain more perspective on the land that we live on here at Treaty Seven."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.