Words and Culture

In this final episode of Innu-aimun, host Melissa Mollen Dupuis speaks with Georges Awaad, a Canadian of Egyptian and Lebanese origins. He is 27 and four years into his language journey of the Innu. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Yvette and Gaëlle Mollen share their experiences and the evolution of teaching in Innu-aimun. Host Melissa Mollen Dupuis opens up about her own language learning experience and shares a traditional story. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Slipping between English and French, old friends Lison Mestokosho and Melissa Mollen Dupuis talk about teaching Innu-aimun to students with different needs. Melissa wonders what it’s like to teach your own children versus teaching others’ children in a classroom. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Land guardian Maxime Lalo joins Melissa to talk about the history of the land of the Innu and the work he does with Elders and community members to collect and document their stories of the land. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Melissa Mollen Dupuis examines the role mothers play when passing down our languages and culture. She speaks with her mom, Marie-Hélène and aunt Paquerette Mollen.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In this first episode of the Innu language, host Melissa Mollen Dupuis speaks with her nine-year-old son, Elias, about Innu-aimun. He challenges her to translate scientific words.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Leela is joined by her cousins to talk about their language journeys, what inspires them to keep speaking Dene Kede, and how they are passing it along to the next generation – their children.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Host Leela Gilday speaks with Chief Fred Sangris about the history and evolution of the Dene – from living in the bush, to dividing the land, and reclaiming traditional names while removing colonial ones. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Leela Gilday visits with her online language teachers - Marie Speakman and Cathy Modeste-Short. They share stories of their childhood, how they retained their language growing up on the land, and how they are using technology to share it with the next generations.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Dene and northern legend Johnny Landry joins Leela Gilday to talk about the importance of singing in the language, teaching the youth Dene language, and why his music is reflective of Dene laws.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Language expert and music lover Paul Andrew joins host Leela Gilday to share stories and music of growing up Dene, and how he has helped advance the language by creating new words as our world evolves.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In this first episode of the Dene language, host Leela Gilday talks with her mentor and cousin Gloria Gaudet. They share laughter, song, and caribou stew, as Leela embarks on her language learning journey.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In this final episode of the Kwakwaka’wakw series, Suzette sits down with Hereditary Chief Robert Joseph who knowledge shares a wealth of information, storytelling, and language. Along with his belief of where it all begins – with love.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In this episode, Suzette Amaya visits with Yola Ferrin Willie who shares her language journey of healing and how she is passing Kwak’wala on to her children and community while still learning herself. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Elder Margaret Wilson is a retired nurse, an author, and holds a PhD in education from the University of British Columbia. She shares how she lived a traditional life with her grandparents until she was five, then was forced into residential school, and almost lost her language. But with grit and determination, Margaret held onto it and is a fluent speaker today. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through...

Elder Julia Nelson is one of the oldest language speakers of Kwak’wala at 95 years old. She is a first language speaker, she is fluent, she has taught the language for decades. The tragedy is her 75 descendants are not fluent. Julia shares her life journey and teaches host Suzette Amaya some new words. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fc...

One of the first things you see when you arrive in Alert Bay, B.C., is Andrea Cranmer’s shop Culture Shock. It is a gathering place, to learn and celebrate the kwakwaka’wawk and a place to listen to stories from community members. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In the premiere episode of the Kwakwaka’wakw episodes, host Suzette Amaya takes us to Alert Bay, B.C., to introduce us to language teacher and cultural knowledge keeper Pewi Alfred. Pewi shares her language journey and teaches Suzette what some of their dances mean.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In this final Gitxsan episode, host Shaneen Robinson sits down with her mother, Catherine Robinson, to discuss intergenerational language learning within their own family. Catherine teaches her grandson to count.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Robert Fritzche is a Sixties Scoop adoptee. He was raised outside of the culture and the language. But Robert shares with host Shaneen Robinson, you can go home again. This incredible storyteller shares his journey from a three year old boy to working and living with the Gitxsan.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Shaneen Robinson visits with her Aunt Ardythe Wilson to learn how their clans come through the mother line. Women have always played an integral role in Gitxsan culture. They share how every person’s strengths are different and are utilized within their house groups according to their strengths. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In this episode, Gitxsan host Shaneen Robinson talks with Hereditary Chief Don Ryan (Hanamuuxw) about how the translation of the Gitxsan language into English can cause confusion and the loss of knowledge. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In the Gitxsan culture, house groups or wilps help structure their communities and laws. Host Shaneen Robinson talks with her auntie, Darlene Howard about the importance of following their traditions.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Less than three per cent of Gitxsan know their language. Host Shaneen Robinson is Gitxsan on her mother’s side and Cree on her father’s side. Dr. Jane M. Smith joins Shaneen to share tips and tricks on learning the language as both an adult and child, something Shaneen as a mom can appreciate. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In this final episode on the Blackfoot language, host Eugene Brave Rock sits with language expert and Elder Rod Scout as he shares his philosophy on language, world views, and what it means to be Blackfoot. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca