The Linguist

@Linguist_CIOL OCTOBER/NOVEMBER The Linguist 15 FEATURES programming strengthens Indigenous peoples' capacity to claim their rights and enables access to essential information and broadcasting in their languages. Our Indigenous Rights Radio Program uses the power of community radio to inform Indigenous communities of their rights in over 140 languages. Recognising the wide gap in access to factual, life-saving information in Indigenous languages during the pandemic, we sourced, translated and disseminated more than 600 public service announcements on Covid-19. These were distributed by 1,200 radio stations globally. OUT OF EXTINCTION Another large-scale CS programme is the Keepers' of the Earth Fund (KOEF). One recipient is the Wôpanâak language reclamation project, which started in 1993 in Massachusetts and now operates as a full-time immersion school. Its mission is to return language fluency to the Wampanoag Nation as a principal means of expression. Just a decade ago, the Wôpanâak language did not have any speakers; now there are new speakers and it is no longer considered extinct. Instituto Superior Pedagógico Quilloac, Bilingüe Intercultural, in Ecuador is also a CS partner. Digital language is expanding very quickly, but although technologies and apps are available in many languages, this doesn't usually include Indigenous languages. Instituto Quilloac members and the Kañari Nation created an app to teach Kichwa to children aged 3-5. They can now learn and practise their language in an interactive way. A vital component of this project is the inclusion of cultural representations, such as the traditional clothing and landscapes of the Kañari peoples. In Colombia, KOEF partner Resguardo Indígena Inga San Miguel de la Castellana works to revitalise and strengthen the Inga language and culture by teaching about local flora and fauna. Young people play an important role by visiting community Elders, who share and explain the properties and characteristics of the trees, plants and animals around them through the Inga language. RESTORING OUR NATIVE LANGUAGES To bring attention to the urgency of working to revitalise and fund Indigenous languages, CS is hosting a three- day virtual conference in October on Restoring and Protecting our Native Languages and Landscapes. This event will include conversations and knowledge sharing around best practice, and methodologies for revitalising and strengthening endangered languages and the traditional ecological knowledge carried within them. Indigenous languages are the mother tongues of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Many communities had these languages stolen from them through centuries of structural racism and colonisation. Revitalising and strengthening them is an act of decolonisation and restorative justice. The conference aims to promote international cooperation by joining leaders from different parts of the globe before the start of the Decade of Indigenous Languages. The protection of Indigenous languages is urgent. Indigenous communities who protect and revive their languages are connected to more sustainable, self- determined and prosperous futures. For humanity on a global scale, the benefits of investing in Indigenous language revitalisation are immeasurable, especially as we are all experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change. The time to act is now. www.culturalsurvival.org Notes 1 Gorenflo, LJ et al (2011) 'Co-occurrence of Linguistic and Biological Diversity in Biodiversity Hotspots and High Biodiversity Wilderness Areas'. Proceedings of NAS, USA CASTING WIDE Broadcasting rights information, music and community news, Cultural Survival grant partner Radio Khandbari is located in a remote district of the Nepali Himalayas 2 3 4 PHOTOS 1 & 4 COURTESY OF ZAPATISTA RADIOS PHOTO COURTESY OF RADIO KHANDBARI PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINA RAIN ANCAN PHOTO COURTESY OF CONFENIAE RADIO

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