International Mother Language Day

February 21 is International Mother Language Day!

It's a good time to remind everyone that the Ktunaxa language, ʔa·kⱡukaqwum, is ancient and an 'isolate,' unrelated to any other language in the world.

ʔa·kⱡukaqwum is integral to the Ktunaxa identity.

Like many Indigenous languages, ʔa·kⱡukaqwum was severely impacted by colonial policies, including residential schools, forced assimilation, and criminalized cultural practices. This disrupted knowledge transmission between the generations.

But now, language revitalization is happening.

Revitalization sounds like:

• Community language classes

• More speakers, and more confidence in speaking

• Ktunaxa Literacy Day, every October 24

• Digital tools for portable learning

• Curriculum development

• Recording and transcription

• Land-based learning programs

• Language apprenticeships

• And more!

There are multiple ways you can learn and practice, and there are even Ktunaxa-created resources designed to help anyone learn how to document their beloved Indigenous language.

Most important, let's THANK those in our communities who share ʔa·kⱡukaqwum--their work is at the heart of everything.

Check out the resources on right of this page, and be sure to click through to discover a wealth of learning resources.

And have a look at this toolkit: Safeguarding Your Language Through Documentation, written by Aiyanna Twigg for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the University of Alberta.