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Enakamigag Anishnabewakin |
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The Survival of Algonquin LanguageFifty-four (54) aboriginal languages are still spoken today in Canada; however, the number of people who are commonly using them is decreasing. The situation affects of course the Algonquin language. By the end of the sixties, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg was already ensuring the continuation of the language. Today a committee comprised of members from the 9 Algonquin communities of Quebec and 2 from Ontario (Wahgoshig and Golden Lake) devotes important efforts to « ensure the continuity of the language and the Algonquin culture by supporting communities in their efforts to achieve their preservation goal, restoring, revitalization, maintenance, promotion and development of the Algonquin Language . The creation of this committee began when Kitigan Zibi held an elders’ conference regarding the conservation of the language. The main efforts involved: obtaining representatives from each community writing the terms of reference and developing a mandate. This process began 4 years ago and since then, eleven communities joined the initiative and the committee now meets 4 times a year. The most recent meeting was held March 29th and 30th 2004, in Lac Simon. Many tasks have been accomplished, particularly an intensive work project that brought all the participating members on the brink of an agreement to adopt a common writing that will allow everybody to read and understand the written language. The committee also circulates information about what is being done elsewhere (seminars, etc.). That is why they created a newsletter that is distributed 3 times a year. Actions have also been taken to develop new words (relating for example to the technological field) by having youths suggest words to translate and elders study the question and create new terms. The committee also organizes activities to allow elders to network, using amongst others, a teleconference system made available by the First Nations Education Council (FNEC). All those important accomplishments have not diminished the energy of the committee who is still planning many more projects. Notably, it wants to translate the numerous recordings that are only in Algonquin, create a website and develop a common curriculum for teachers of the Anishinabe language. In order to accomplish these new mandates, an adequate and recurrent financing is necessary and the committee dedicates a lot of time and energy to this matter. Good news was recently announced when the Tribal Council offered financial assistance for the amount of $30,000 (a contribution of $5,000 from each member communities). The committee would like to secure future financing that would permit to institute permanent programs to remedy for example to the fact that certain communities do not possess installations to teach the language. The committee had presented a petition to the Federal Government, before the change of leadership, to try to obtain a law to protect the language and to get funding. Unfortunately, they still have not received an answer. It is thanks to such measures that the survival and development of the Algonquin language is assured and that future generations will be able to appreciate and have the opportunity to learn the language of their ancestors.
May / June CalendarMay May 19th & 20th: First Nations Management Training, delivered by the Algonquin Tribal Council (Val d’Or)
June 5th & 6th: Pow Wow (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg)
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First Nations Management Training
For more information please feel free to contact Brenda Whiteduck, the Training Coordinator, at 819.449.1225.
2004 Champions!
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Hi,
Here is the second edition of our newsletter where you will be able to read and learn about many subjects and events regarding our Anishinabe member communities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who sent me information and collaborated by giving me interviews.
I also wish to remind you that you are all invited to submit articles or news to be published in the next issue of the newsletter. It can be information about a past or upcoming event, a new project, anything that is newsworthy. The newsletter is a tool at your service to promote and announce your good news and initiatives. Do not hesitate to use it!
I wish you a nice spring season and I hope to see you again in July for the summer edition.
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Construction Technician
For this second issue, we are introducing our Construction Technician, Mr. Douglas Odjick who has been working for the Tribal Council since 1997.
Douglas is a member of the Kitigan Zibi First Nation. His career started in 1979 upon enrolling in a General Carpentry Certificate program and then Construction Engineering Technician Diploma. In 1982, he moved back to his community to teach drafting to high school students and metric conversion to the local carpenters. In 1983, he moved back to Ottawa to start a career as an estimator and general contractor. In 1989, he opened up his own business, Champion Construction, where he designed and built residential and commercial buildings.
He is a member of the Housing Liaison Committee for First Nations in Québec and a member of the First Nation National Building Officers Association steering committee.
As the Construction Technician, Douglas works in partnership
with the Housing Officers and Maintenance Supervisors and sometimes gets directives directly from the Chiefs of the member communities. He provides the communities with the following services: Performs conformance inspections for housing and community buildings, provides building conformance code information, provides cost estimates for community projects, produces preliminary concept designs for residential and community buildings and assists in the preparation of terms of reference and the analysis of bids and proposals.
When asked which aspect of his work he prefers, Douglas explains that it is the possibility to network with people from the different member communities and across Canada.
His biggest challenge is to complete work for the communities while at the same time providing work asked from funding organizations (for example, attending and organizing workshops, etc.), because to him his work should be devoted to the communities for the majority of the time.
March 17th marked Douglas’ seventh year working for the Tribal Council. Which changes has he noticed since he started? “Well, first of all, when I started only five communities were members of the Tribal Council, Kitcisakik became the sixth member and Wahgoshig joined after. The size of the communities increased, with the number of available lots. The construction capacity increased and many infrastructures were built. And now Kitcisakik is building a new community.”
With those numerous developments, Douglas sometimes finds it hard to prioritize which project, in which community is more urgent, because construction, for the most part, starts at the same time in every community.
But those many challenges are also the reason why he finds his job rewarding and is still interesting after seven years.
To contact the Construction Technician:
Tel: 819.449.1225
Email: dougo@anishinabenation.ca
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“Building Better Careers, Better Homes, Better Communities Together”
We present you today an association that was created not long ago and that aim, by its different objectives, to improve First Nations housing conditions.
The First Nations National Building Officer’s Association (FNNBOA) was created three years ago to bring together about 300 First Nations workers who work as technical service providers in communities across Canada. They offer technical services including plan review, inspections, recommending repairs and advisory services assisting on-reserve construction.
The Association gave itself a large number of objectives, but concentrate especially on representing the best interests of members in the broad area of occupational development. Also it will advocate housing policies that will lead to better building and renovation practices and ultimately improve housing conditions in First Nations communities.
To achieve that, FNNBOA wants to facilitate access to the knowledge, skills, training and resources that will enable them to help their First Nation towards self-sufficiency in housing. For the Association it means it has to play a large role in advocating for, developing and implementing comprehensive housing policies covering all technical aspects of construction and renovation, such as the adoption and application of building codes.
FNNBOA will provide a strong collective voice for First Nations building officers, where before there was none.
Already partnerships have been established with, notably, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors, etc.
For additional information consult the Association’s website at www.fnnboa.ca
Source: FNNBOA News, Volume 1, Number 1, Summer 2003.
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Terra Incognita des Kotakoutouemis
A new book named “Terra Incognita des Kotakoutouemis, L’Algonquinie Orientale au XVIIe Siècle”, has just been published jointly by Les Presses de l’Université Laval and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
It is about the history of the Algonquin Nation, more specifically about the contact period between Europeans and Aboriginals from Abitibi-Temiscamingue.
If you would like to buy it, contact Distribution de Livres Univers, toll free, at 1.800.859.7474.
