Six Nations Language Commission Thanks Grand River Enterprises for Donation to Indigenous Language Revitalization Efforts

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Six Nations Language Commission Extends Gratitude to Grand River Enterprises for their Generous Support to Indigenous Language Revitalization Efforts

[Ohsweken, March 31, 2024] — The Six Nations Language Commission (SNLC) is pleased to acknowledge Grand River Enterprises (GRE) for their generous and ongoing commitment to Indigenous language revitalization efforts at Six Nations of the Grand River. In recognition of National Indigenous Languages Day, GRE has announced a $250,000 donation to the Six Nations Language Commission, bringing GRE’s total contribution to language revitalization to nearly 1 million dollars since 2021.

“GRE is proud to continue our support of Indigenous languages,” said Steve Williams, President of Grand River Enterprises. “We think language is very important for the community and for youth in the community. We hope our contribution will help our people have more language learning opportunities in the future.”

“Community support for language revitalization is critical,” said Amos Keye Jr, Vice-Chair of the Six Nations Language Commission Board. “There are many ways community members and community businesses can support this important work. I applaud GRE for their significant contributions and would welcome any other businesses who would like to offer their support as well to come forward and talk with us.” 

Karen Sandy, Coordinator of the Six Nations Language Commission, emphasized the critical role of stable funding in sustaining language revitalization efforts. “Over the last ten years we have focussed heavily on adult immersion language programming. Research has confirmed time and time again that adult immersion is the most impactful way to create speakers and help people develop language capacity. We’ve also heard from community that we need a variety of resources, programs and pathways for different levels of learning readiness. This funding will help us respond to both needs, and create more stability for the adult immersion programs we support.”

BACKGROUND:

• March 31st has been celebrated as National Indigenous Languages Day on Turtle Island (Canada) since 1993.

• The Six Nations Language Commission currently supports two adult immersion programs at Six Nations of the Grand River and is committed to developing resources and supports for all six languages with their many community collaborators.

• All six Haudenosaunee languages are considered to be critically endangered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Contact: Karen Sandy, Coordinator, Six Nations Language Commission 

karen@snlanguagecommission.com

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Now Accepting Applications for Grassroots Community Language Projects

The Six Nations Language Commission is pleased to welcome applications for grassroots community language projects.

The SNLC acknowledges that there are some smaller volunteer projects within the Six Nations community that would be seeking small grants for specific proposals. The maximum amount that will be granted under this Grassroots stream will be $15,000.00 per application. 

Note that given the many areas of need concerning language in our community, the SNLC will be required to make decisions about which projects to fund and, in many cases, excellent proposals that meet the eligibility criteria will not be funded or will not receive the full amount of requested funding.

Please find the application in PDF and Fillable PDF here:

Grassroots Community Application - PDF

Grassroots Community Application - FILLABLE PDF

The deadline for applications is: OCTOBER 13th, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Please submit applications (and any inquiries) to admin@snlanguagecommission.com.

Nyá:węh/Niá:wen and we look forward to receiving your applications.

Update: March 2019

Celebrating 12 Years

2019 marks the 12th year the Six Nations Language Commission (SNLC) has been operating. At present, the SNLC supports programs for three languages and it has been a busy year as they strive to create a critical mass of new speakers.

Six Nations is fortunate to have a number of groups, organizations and schools that support language revitalization. Language programming is available in the daycares, in the elementary and high schools, in the Indigenous Institutes and there are also efforts that happen as individuals attempt to learn on their own.

These organizations have also developed language resources, like Six Nations Polytechnic, who designed and created a Cayuga and Mohawk language app, or the Cayuga Our Oral Legacy Project, which created an online dictionary for iOS.

Ongoing Funding Challenges

However, funding for language revitalization efforts continues to be a challenge. Over the past few years SNLC has been able to count on the local, financial support of the Six Nations Elected Council, Six Nations Community Development Trust, the Haudenosaunee Development Institute, and Grand River Employment and Training. External financial support has come from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Heritage Canada, and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.

One of the adult immersion language programs were also recipients of funds direct from the National Indian Brotherhood. Yet another of the adult immersion program received funding support from the Ontario Ministry of Education. Programs have also successfully partnered on research projects through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Finally, there are also individual private donors who believe in revitalizing our languages through monthly or one-time donations. These funds assist in supporting initiatives where funding is otherwise restricted or limited.

Other Activities

In 2013 and 2016 respectively, the SNLC co-hosted two language conferences which looked at best practices, archiving, lexicalization and documentation. The second of these conferences was videotaped and those videos are now available on our YouTube Channel.

We are also wrapping up a project that created Cayuga and Mohawk resources and books for learners. The purpose of this project was to create more resources that would be helpful across different learning levels (i.e. the three learning levels identified by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced).

Other Supports

The Grand Erie District School Board has also continued to support the Cayuga and Mohawk languages by offering them in secondary schools. Onkwawenna Kentyohkwa is currently running a first and second year adult immersion program. Dwadewayehsta Gayogohono is running a second year program and the Gawenahwishe Onodagega is currently running a first year program.

Our Board

The Six Nations Language Commission Board meets monthly, and are always on the lookout for interested community members to serve on it or to volunteer. If interested, please contact use for more information at 905-765-5595.

Finally, please “like” us on Facebook and subscribe to our new Youtube channel!

2019 Indigenous Languages Day Event

We celebrated Indigenous Languages Day once again with a gathering at Six Nations Polytechnic!

Community members were invited to a drop-in schedule of events including speakers, booths from local language programs, and refreshments. The speakers included each language program presenting on their efforts, elders and Indigenous Knowledge Guardians, and learners currently trying to master the Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀ (Cayuga), Kanien’keha (Mohawk) and Onǫdaˀgegaˀ (Onondaga) languages.

Photo courtesy Six Nations Polytechnic facebook

2019 is also the International Year of Indigenous Languages as designated by the UN, and we share in celebrating our own languages. Indeed, we should strive to celebrate and use our languages every day.

We plan to host a few more gatherings like this over the coming year. We hope you’ll join us!

Gwe:gǫh aedwahs nidwawęnoˀdę:!