Summer Learning Series 2023: Archiving Indigenous Language Materials
- Ben Chung (Unlicensed)
This page is subject to change as resources and descriptions are added during the Summer Learning Series: August 14th - 18th.
Introduction
The Summer Learning Series is a new initiative launched by First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) in 2023 with the goal of gathering participants from First Nations communities across B.C. to learn and share as we work together toward the revitalization of B.C. First Nations languages, arts, cultures and heritage.
The objective of the FPCC Summer Learning Series is to encourage and empower participants through relevant, practical, and meaningful skills-based learning experiences.
We respectfully acknowledge Snuneymuxw First Nation on whose traditional territory FPCC will be hosting the event. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Snuneymuxw First Nation and the mulstímuxw (people) for their contributions in supporting this event and for generously providing a name for the event in Hul’qumi’num’ – the language of the land and the people.
huncewstuxw tu xe’ xe’ sqwel ‘Bringing Back the Sacred Language’ – Language Revitalization Skill Development
The Hul’q’umi’num’ phrase ‘huncewstuxw tu xe’ xe’ sqwel’ was generously provided by Snuneymuxw First Nation and translates to bringing back the sacred language. The first word ‘huncewstuxw’ holds additional context in hul’q’umi’num’ which signifies “bringing something important or sacred down from the mountain that was stored there”.
The Summer Learning Series provides practical and hands-on training delivered over one week for individuals from B.C. First Nations communities who are working with B.C. First Nations languages.
This page hosts the worksheets and resources for the Archiving Indigenous Language Materials workshop in the Technology stream of Week One. The technology theme includes workshops on technology tools and practices that support language revitalization work. Topics will include tools such as FirstVoices and practices in digitizing language materials.
The facilitators of this workshop are Kim Lawson (Haíɫzaqv) and Ben Chung (First Peoples' Cultural Council).
Archiving Indigenous Language Materials Overview
Location: Vancouver Island Conference Centre (Lantzville Room)
Description:
Language materials allow you to (re)connect with ancestors through tangible and intangible ways. Taking care of these resources and the knowledge they share with us is an essential, meaningful act in language revitalization.
In this workshop, you will be encouraged to use traditional worldviews and cultural knowledge to begin to arrange and catalogue your language resource collections and work with institutions that house materials out of community. Through discussion and the sharing of archiving principles, you will begin to draft an organizational system plan to build upon or begin creating a reference database/framework.
Goals for this workshop:
Re-evaluating and re-thinking how to make archives/museums work for us & our role with cultural records;
Better understanding of how access protocols are implemented in digital tools, museums/archives, and our own personal practices;
How we can better store our files & materials;
Better understanding of our role in Indigenous materials and their safeguarding.
Session One Resources
This first session of the workshop will focus on principles in Indigenous archiving and access policies. Facilitators will compare and contrast common themes in institutional archiving and community practices for Indigenous resource management.
PowerPoint Presentation
Session One Handout
Other Recommended Resources
Archives Association of British Columbia:
https://aabc.ca/Indigenous-Archives-&-Record-Keeping
Session Two Resources
This second session will discuss common scenarios and terminology in archiving. Facilitators will interrogate jargon and help participants better navigate these realms and even repatriation conversations.
PowerPoint Presentation
Session Two Handout
This extensive list of archival jargon is yours to use if you encounter new terms in this field:
Resources Discussed in the Session
National Museum of the American Indian Repatriation
Repatriation | National Museum of the American Indian
1.2. Step-by-Step Process File: https://americanindian.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/repatriation/NMAI-Repatriation-Guidelines-2020.pdf
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (U.S. National Park Service)
From Arrival to Dissemination: The Curation of an Oral History Collection
Alutiiq Museum
Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository in Kodiak, Alaska
Mukurtu
Link: https://mukurtu.org/
Creative Commons
Session Three Resources
In this third session, the workshop facilitators will demonstrate the utility of two software programs: Zotero & Lameta.
Zotero is a free resource management software for bibliographic and reference information. It can be downloaded at this link: Zotero | Your personal research assistant
Lameta is a free metadata tool to assist with archiving and arranging collections of files. It is designed to house and organize cultural and linguistic information. It can be downloaded at this link: Lameta
Together, these tools can help inform your personal practices of reference, storage, and metadata tracking.
PowerPoint Presentation
Resources Discussed in the Session
Other Recommended Resources
Sustainable Heritage Network:
Records, metadata, and Mukurtu: Customizing Content Management | The Sustainable Heritage Network
Session Four Resources
This final sessions will focus on relationships with institutions like museums and other repositories.
What sort of changes do communities need to better work with these organizations?
How will Indigenous peoples take control of their materials and make systems that adhere to cultural values and protocols?
How will this generation leave an archival legacy in Indigenous language resurgence and revitalization?
Together, the facilitators and cohort will discuss these important questions.
Resources Discussed in the Session
Ultimate Visual Dictionary : DK
Other Recommended Resources
10 Recommendations for Supporting Indigenous Cultural Heritage (First Peoples' Cultural Council):
Sustainable Heritage Network:
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (United Nations): https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf
More Information
For more information on this event, please contact Tasia Harris (Event Specialist): tasia@fpcc.ca.
For more information on this course content, please contact Ben Chung: ben@fpcc.ca.
If you are currently attending the Summer Learning Series and need assistance or have questions about the workshops, please find a FPCC staff personnel at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
This program is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage as a result of the Government of Canada’s Indigenous Languages Act.