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Aakoota-kaawaapaamittin: The Michif Language


A grassroots community organization focused on the revitalization of (Southern) Michif and other Indigenous languages spoken by the Métis and their kin.

The Master-Apprentice Program for Michif at Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle uses one-on-one home and community based immersion techniques to teach Michif language and Métis culture. The Program pairs speakers and learners. Apprentices in the program go grocery shopping with master language-keepers and in time use Michif in every day life. Verna DeMontigny says Michif is a living language, constantly changing; she and other language-keepers gather at least once a year to formulate new words. They consider terms from English, French, and what they call vrai Cree; they consider terms already used by Michif speakers. Verna DeMontigny was interviewed just before the doors opened at the Métis Pavilion. Towards the end of the interview, you can see people coming in to share traditional music, dance, food, and laughter. The Pavilion is sponsored by the Manitoba Manitoba Métis Federation – Southwest Region (http://www.southwestmmf.ca/) and is part of the Westman Multicultural Festival in Brandon Manitoba. This year it was held from January 31 to February 2, 2019. If you have a chance to go in the future, try the rice pudding.

Please note: The quality of the audio and video in each interview on NCCIE.CA may vary. NCCIE has been a capacity- and skills-building project for students and youth. They have been "learning-through-doing," learning how to arrange and conduct interviews while, at the same time, gaining experience with the technology.

Resources

Michif Language Gathering - Verna DeMontigny

Verna DeMontigny participated in a Michif Language Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 30, 2019. Michif speakers from all over the province came together to discuss the health of Michif. In this video, Verna DeMontigny shares her thoughts about what steps could be taken to preserve and grow the language.

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Michif Language Gathering - Elvis DeMontigny

Elvis DeMontigny participated in a Michif Language Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 30, 2019. Michif speakers from all over the province came together to discuss the health of Michif. In this video, Elvis DeMontigny shares his thoughts about what steps could be taken to preserve and grow the language.

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Michif Language Gathering - Connie Henry

Connie Henry participated in a Michif Language Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 30, 2019. Michif speakers from all over the province came together to discuss the health of Michif. In this video, Connie Henry shares her thoughts about what steps could be taken to preserve and grow the language.

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Michif Language Gathering - James Lavallée

James Lavallée participated in a Michif Language Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 30, 2019. Michif speakers from all over the province came together to discuss the health of Michif. In this video, James Lavallée shares his thoughts about what steps could be taken to preserve and grow the language.

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Michif Language Gathering - George Pelletier

George Pelletier participated in a Michif Language Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 30, 2019. Michif speakers from all over the province came together to discuss the health of Michif. In this video, George Pelletier shares his thoughts about what steps could be taken to preserve and grow the language.

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Michif Language Gathering - Vivian Smith

Vivian Smith participated in a Michif Language Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 30, 2019. Michif speakers from all over the province came together to discuss the health of Michif. In this video, Vivian Smith shares her thoughts about what steps could be taken to preserve and grow the language.

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Related Stories

Master-Apprentice Indigenous language revitalization in Michif and Other Indigenous Languages

Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle Master-Apprentice Indigenous language revitalization aims to build the capacity of fluent-speaking Elders and others (“masters”) and committed learners (“apprentices”) to work as language learning teams in hopes of keeping their endangered ancestral languages alive. P2WILRC, a grassroots all-volunteer community group based in the Parkland, was given a grant […]
Community
Post-Secondary
Cree
Elder Knowledge
Language
Michif
Oji-Cree
Ojibway
Saulteaux
Traditional Knowledge
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Contact Details

Organization: Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle
Name: Verna DeMontigny
Title: Master Michif Language
Phone Number: 204.761.3841
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p2wilrc/

Contributor

Name: Laura Forsythe
Regional Lead(s):
  • Richard Stecenko 

Province/Territory

Manitoba

Education Levels

Community

Education Topics

Language
Michif

Language Spoken

English
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