Finding Our Talk Season Two

Episode 1: A Brighter Future - Mohawk

The focus of this episode looks at the young people of both Kanehsata:ke and Kahnawake, two Mohawk communities located in Quebec. These communities have been instrumental in providing Mohawk immersion programs within their communities for a number of years. Students who attended these schools currently or in the past are the focus of this episode. We look at how the Mohawk language, Kanien'kéha plays in the life of these young people today.
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Episode 2: Gentle Words - Maliseet

This episode examines the efforts and the importance of community involvement in maintaining and reviving culture and language. Imelda Perley a teacher and Maliseet speaker has committed much of her time and knowledge to the people of St. Mary's, Kingclear and Tobique N.B.

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Episode 3: The Spirit of Stories - Ojibway

According to ancient Anishnabe legend, the Great Spirit wished for an Island retreat, so he created Manitou Minissing, or Island of the Spirits. Today it's known as Manitoulin Island. This is a sacred place where by tradition, the greatest leaders and warriors, medicine men and women, were buried.

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Episode 4: Language of the North - Naskapi

This episode deals with the how the Naskapi Development Corporation has spearheaded the promotion of the Naskapi language, history and culture. They are currently involved with projects such as computerization of the Naskapi Lexicon and a Naskapi language translation of the Bible.

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Episode 5: Language of the Caribou People - Gwitchin

This episode is about the Gwitchin people of Old Crow, Yukon and their plight to save their culture and language through their efforts to protect the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which is vital to the Gwitchin way of life. Every year 75 or more members of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation also known as the 'Caribou People' travel from Old Crow, Yukon to Porcupine River where they wait for the herd of caribou.
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Episode 6: Our Past Our Language - Secwepemc

This episode will examine how effectively a full language immersion program can save a dying language. We will show how a 'Nursery Program' grew to become a high school. We will also take a look at two influential people who have worked hard studying, writing and teaching the language, and about their own struggles trying to press the importance of language to their own children.
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artistEpisode 7: Buffalo People - Dakota

Originally occupying a region in today’s Minnesota were the Dakota, who were also called the Santee Sioux, They grew into three main groups: The Lakota, the Nakota and the Dakota whose languages are the same but with a different dialect. The Dakota are the largest of the three and are considered the mother group.

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artistEpisode 8: Healing Power of Words - Dene

This episode will look at how residential schools played a role in the destruction of Aboriginal languages in Canada. It will focus on three former residential school students who are reclaiming and using aboriginal languages as a healing component when dealing with their own personal experiences and in helping others overcome the legacy of the residential schools.
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artistEpisode 9: Our Music is Our Language: Oneida

In this episode we will examine the efforts of one community to revive their language and culture. One, an immersion centre with a "hands-on, healing-first" philosophy. The other, an unlicensed radio station which focuses on the Oneida language and Native American music rather than mainstream top 40.

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artistEpisode 10: Words from Our Scholars - Cree

Indigenous/Native Studies is a rapidly growing field and it is hoped that all communities, native and non-native, could benefit from their contributions and research. In this episode we talk to First Nation scholars about how they apply Aboriginal languages in their fields of study through research and curriculum development.
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artistEpisode 11: Words from our Elders - Blackfoot

This episode will focus on the words of the elders and what they can teach to the younger generation about their language and culture. The Kainai Board of Education in Standoff, Blood Reserve, Alberta uses stories from the elders in their school curriculum.

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artistEpisode 12: Cultural Centers and Language

We look at the important role that the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre has played in strengthening cultural awareness and in establishing several educational institutions in Saskatchewan. We also visit the Tsi Ronteriwanonhnha language centre in Kanestake, Quebec whose doors remain open in the face of serious funding cutbacks.
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artistEpisode 13: The Dreamers - Dane-Zaa

This episode examines how tradition is sustained orally and through personal contact. The Dane-Zaa people believe that story telling is more than just entertainment, it is important information that is being communicated from one person to another and from one generation to another. We also take a look at the process of relating old language by way of recordings and multi-media.
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