Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is Aboriginal Languages Day so I will be speaking in my language. As my friend, John Ningark spoke, I also think of when I was a child, I went to Fort Providence from Fort Simpson to go to school. I went to school there for four years. During that time, I did not see my parents and we were taught only in English. We were prohibited to speak our language and so the majority of the native students spoke mostly English. When we went home, we spoke only our aboriginal language. That happened not only in his area, but all over the country. I am thankful that we can still speak our native languages today. When I left my community I was gone for a fair amount of time and when I arrived back in my community I spoke a little bit of my native language. When I became a chief, I spoke my language fairly well. As I learned more from my elders, I continued to speak better in my language. Today, the students seem to have a hard time speaking their native language. It seems like everything is mostly in English, like TV and so on. They do not seem to speak their native languages that much and the elders predominantly speak in their native language, so there is a communication gap. Today, we are starting to learn to write our languages. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. (Translation ends)
Jim Antoine on Importance Of Aboriginal Languages
In the Legislative Assembly on March 5th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Importance Of Aboriginal Languages
Item 3: Members' Statements
March 4th, 1997
Page 1104
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
See context to find out what was said next.