Words and Culture

There are a lot of assumptions around Indigenous languages in Canada. But the biggest fallacy might be that they are purely oral language. Host Pam Palmater talks with educator, poet, and artist Michelle Sylliboy whose work focuses on the oral and written language of Mi’kmaq. Petroglyphs tell the story of contact while others are pre-contact.   Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radi...

In the first episode of the Mi’kmaq episodes, our host Pam Palmater introduces us to Jarvis Googoo who speaks all over the Maritimes about Mi'kmaq history and culture. He is the embodiment of what it means to share our culture with the world. He is a marathon runner with a law degree and is the host of the TV show Mi’kmagi. Jarvis talks about the return to original place names.  Funded by Sir...

Richard Armstrong is an Elder and a first language speaker of nsyilxcən. is determined to keep teaching the language to younger people by meeting them where they are comfortable – online. Host Tracey Kim Bonneau visits with Richards and also learns more about the land around her through language.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Kristine Jack was raised with language speakers. She listened to her grandmother as she shared stories with the other women while out on the land or even just visiting their home. And this was her spark to learn the language because as Kristine tells it, she really wanted to know what they were saying.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-f...

Dr. Maxine Baptiste shares how the nsyilxcn written language evolved as technology evolved. And gives Tracey Kim Bonneau a lesson on nsyilxcn sounds that don’t exist in the English language. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

In this emotionally-packed episode, host Tracey Kim Bonneau speaks with her daughter about what it’s like working to reclaim her language while also trying to raise her granddaughter with language. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Host Tracey Kim Bonneau talks with language learner and keeper Peggy Joe about growing up and hearing adults use the syilx language for secrets and then learning it herself to teach her grandchildren. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Host Tracey Kim Bonneau introduces you to the syilx of the Okanagan Valley. Her guest is cultural and language keeper Elder Rose Coldwell. They start the series in a good way with a blessing and song from the land. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

The process of being a giant part of Haida culture and the stories of being a “just a man on a journey”. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Christian White shares his experiences as an artist and thoughts on how to find your place in the community while learning the language. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Erika Ryan shares her love of the Haida language, how she learned and how she is passing it along to not only younger generations but older ones as well. Plus she teaches Kristi how to flirt in the language! Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Diane Brown shares her experiences in becoming a storyteller of Haida legends. She shares one of the legends about raven. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Kristi Lane Sinclair takes listeners to a potlatch to feast and celebrate the Gidansta pole. She paints the scenes in the longhouse and shares how the potlatch ban and outlawing of ceremonies affected the Haida. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Haida/Cree musician Kristi Lane Sinclair hosts the Haida Episodes as we kick off season 2 of Words and Culture. Kristi visits carvers Jaalan and Gwaai Edenshaw as they finish creating a memorial pole for their father, Guujaaw.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Musician Beatrice Deer shares her love of tattoos with Madeleine and the importance of traditional tattoos. Then Madeleine shares an intimate moment in her life as she receives another line in her chin tattoo. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Madeleine is visited by Meeka Mike in her own kitchen. Get ready to be immersed in Inuktitut as Meeka bakes bannock for Madeleine while sharing parts of her journey as an Inuk.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Robbie Watt joins Madeleine and shares his love of throat singing. He discusses how he learned it and continues to sing it today, even though throat singing is mainly sung by women.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Madeleine steps out of her comfort zone and interviews her dear “chum” Lucy Qavavauq who she has known since residential school and then as mothers. Lucy is now the co-CEO of Inuit TV. They share laughter, tears and the importance of keeping the Inuktitut language alive. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Madeleine visits her good friend and former colleague Joanna Awa. They share their love of the north, broadcasting in Inuktitut, and the colonization of her family by Qallunaat - or white people.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Host Madeleine Alakkariallak introduces us to the Inuktitut language and the Inuit who continue to speak it. Guest Louise Flaherty is a book publisher and is a first language learner and she shares how she became a translator for her grandparents at a very young age.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Author Waubgeshig Rice brings Anishinaabemowin into the future with his novels set in a futuristic world. Waub discusses his love of the written word and how that has allowed him to bring his language to readers of all cultures. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

James Vukelich shares his love of the language on his Instagram account by sharing a word of the day. He took up the challenge during the pandemic and has more than 123,000 followers – all for the love of Anishinaabemowin. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Anishinaabe singer/songwriter Shy-Anne Horvorka has returned to music after a several years long break. She has returned with not only new music but for the first time, music in Anishinaabemowin.  Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Language keeper Patricia Ningewance loves her language and translating English into Anishinaabemowin. Patricia is an author, painter, nookum and is translating Star Wars into Anishinaabemowin. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca

Duncan McCue is a former journalist turned professor. He shares his journey of learning Anishinaabemowin and what it was like being fully immersed in the language and his struggle to keep it up in his daily life. Funded by Sirius XM Canada through the Community Radio Fund of Canada wordsandculture.ca crfc-fcrc.ca