Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug – Bob Nault, Member of Parliament (Kenora), today announced $133,886 in funding for a Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation digital documentary series.
The First Nation will partner with professional filmmakers to produce an Oji-Cree language mini-documentary series. Each episode of the series, KI Talking Circle Series, will focus on a different aspect of how climate change is impacting their remote, northern community. The programming will be broadcast online through IsumaTV.
“Our Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario are rich with language and culture, and it is important that their stories and realities are shared with others throughout the region and across Canada,” stated Nault. “I am very pleased that our government is making the kind of investments that are necessary in order that residents of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation are able to preserve and protect their language and culture for generations to come.”
2019 has been proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. The proclamation aims to draw attention to the critical loss of Indigenous languages, and the urgent need to maintain, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages.
“This investment will give young people an excellent opportunity to not only learn more about their culture, but it will also help inspire them to maintain their language so that they can pass it on to their children,” concluded Nault. “That’s why this is so important because teaching children their traditional language brings them a true sense of identity, pride and belonging so that they can be proud of their heritage.”
The funding is being provided under the Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting component of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Program.
“We are proud to support the revitalization of Canada’s Indigenous languages through our historic Indigenous Languages Act, and through funding programs that invest in projects that promote learning, teaching and sharing of traditional languages. We are taking concrete measures to create opportunities for Indigenous languages to survive and flourish in the communities where they are spoken, by the people who speak them,” states Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism.
Quick Facts:
| The Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting component of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Program supports Indigenous broadcasting societies to produce and distribute radio and television programming in the North. The objectives are to:
· support the production of culturally relevant Indigenous programming; · facilitate the establishment and maintenance of production facilities; · ensure the availability of a significant amount of radio and television programming; · contribute to the preservation and promotion of Indigenous languages and cultures; and · provide venues to articulate issues of relevance to Indigenous audiences and communities. |
| Applicants must be non-profit, democratically controlled, Indigenous organizations or working with Indigenous organizations that provide broadcast communications north of the 55th parallel (“Hamelin Line”). |
Associated Links
Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/aboriginal-peoples/northern-broadcasting.html
