Sanyakola Project: Being Creative Together-Indigenous Language Revitalization

This project supports the resurgence and restoration of Kwakwaka̱’wakw pedagogy and methodology encoded in Kwak’wala, as well as the goals to explore the vital link between the revitalization of Kwak’wala and implementation changes, such language learning supports the restoration of holistic wellness for Kwakwaka̱’wakw.

Project Dates: May 7, 2021 – July 6, 2024

Funding Amount: $450,000

Students Hired: 4

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Project Summary

This Indigenous language revitalization project consists of four sub-projects that together have the potential to significantly support the revitalization of Kwak'wala: the language of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nations. Exploring the vital link between Indigenous holistic wellness and language revitalization will be a central theme of the project. The project will rely on active community engagement, youth capacity development and an action-based, braided approach that will have the potential to provide a model for the reclamation of endangered Indigenous languages in general and may have international implications. The four sub-projects include: development of a multi-year strategic language revitalization plan, exploration of Kwakwaka'wakw pedagogy rooted in land-based settings, exploration of how immersive technologies can support the reclamation and resurgence of Indigenous, pedagogy and worldview encoded in language, and the exploration of how youth leadership and language fluency building programs are enhanced by the resurgence and infusion of Kwakwaka'wakw worldview and pedagogy.

Research Team

Partners

Sanyakola Foundation

News stories and coverage

• CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-indigenous-language-preservation-ai-1.6332285
• Mitacs Webinar: https://youtu.be/E-hv4b5XrgA
• Chek News: https://www.cheknews.ca/port-hardy-research-team-revitalizing-indigenous-language-with-unique-blueprint-947979/
• Windspeaker: https://windspeaker.com/news/windspeaker-news/project-growing-kwakwakawakw-souls-through-language-land-culture-and
• The Star: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/02/02/project-growing-kwakwakawakw-souls-through-language-land-culture-and-technology.html
• Times Colonist: Learning Indigenous languages by using them outside the classroom in daily life
• North Island Gazette: Research team is revitalizing Indigenous language with a first-of-its-kind blueprint
• Global News: Researchers in B.C. could help save one of the world’s most complex Indigenous languages