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By Martin Martinson

Helping hands

Plains Indian Sign Language Camp coming soon to Poundmaker

Jul 18, 2019 | 3:00 PM

Poundmaker First Nation is doing their part to keep a key element of their language alive.

Miyawata Culture and the Poundmaker Cree Nation are hosting a Plains Indian sign language camp on the Cree Nation from July 28 to Aug. 2.

The workshop, organized by Floyd Favel, will be facilitated by Dr. Lanny Real Bird of Crow Agency, Montana. Real Bird visited the Poundmaker First Nation last year to teach sign language in an event that piqued the interest of many within the community and surrounding area.

“They tested the waters last year and found that there was wider interest and support for it [than perhaps previously thought],” Headman Milton Tootoosis said. “This year, Floyd has invited [Real Bird] to stay with us for an entire week, so we’re kicking it up a notch.”

Tootoosis said the six-day camp is an excellent opportunity to learn a valuable way to pass along the First Nation’s culture and language, and encourages people of all ages to take part and make the most of the experience.

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“Language is core to culture to any culture,” he said. “Our language is special [and] we send a call out, an urgent call out to parents, grandparents and leaders to partake in programs like this. We need to start being more proactive to revive and maintain our languages, especially for the young people, the young generations coming up.”

Tootoosis said language is an integral part of keeping the First Nation’s culture alive throughout the generations.

“Without language a whole culture is lost,” he said. “Without language we cannot claim sovereignty as a nation, [and] without our own language, we will lose a lot of the spiritual and indigenous knowledge about our worldview. That is why it is so important that we have programs like this.”

The workshop will take place at the Chief Poundmaker Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1