Many First Nations languages require a number of characters that are not available on the standard English keyboard. To type these characters, you must install a keyboard (a program which reorganizes how your physical keyboard works) as well as a good font that renders characters in Indigenous languages properly.
For some characters to appear properly at all, you must be using Windows XP or Mac 10.2 or higher. These operating systems support Unicode, which is the system that allows all characters to be displayed properly and consistently across different devices and the internet. Earlier PC and Mac operating systems do not support Unicode technology sufficiently. Even if you are using a recent operating system, not all of your applications will necessarily be Unicode compliant.
For PC computers with Windows 7, 8, 10
For Mac computers
Click on your language site name below to see the page for your keyboard on Keyman. The name of that keyboard is what you would search for during the installation; instructions for installation can be found in the next section on this page.
There are many different languages and many different devices so if your device isn't listed here, or you need extra help installing a keyboard, please email us at support@fpcc.ca |
List of keyboards corresponding to FirstVoices language sites |
'Uwik̓ala / ’Wùik̓ala |
If you are installing the FirstVoices keyboard for your language on mobile devices, such as a phone or tablet, you can download the FirstVoices Keyboards app on for iPhone/iPad or Android. Search for "FirstVoices" in the App Store for iPhone/iPad or in the Google Play Store for Android. Further instructions for using the FirstVoices keyboard app can be found here: iPhone/iPad Userguide or Android Userguide.
Installing the FirstVoices keyboard for your language on a computer will be done through a keyboard software called Keyman. Go to https://keyman.com and follow along with the instructions in the following video:
Please note that FirstVoices keyboards, including the mobile app and computer keyboards, do NOT track, log or view any of your personal data (such as passwords, credit card info, etc.).
If your community doesn't have an existing FirstVoices Keyman keyboard that suits your unique orthography, the FirstVoices team is available to develop one for you! Click here to read our Request a new keyboard.