‘Hello,’ ‘Thank you,’ ‘What is your name?’
These are the most basic words that we learn when we want to talk with someone in another language. We, in Revelstoke, are surrounded by four Indigenous nations that have a long connection with this land yet the vast majority of us don’t know how to greet or thank our neighbours in their own languages. Most of us struggle even to say the names of these nations correctly.
Joining the Indigenous languages movement
On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Revelstoke cultural sector aims to change that. Educators from the Sinixt, Secwepemc, Suknaquin (Okanagan)/Syilx and Ktunaxa nations will present short videos to teach us the words for ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ and how to pronounce the names of their nations properly.
Because the Sinixt and Suknaquin share the N̓səl̓xcin (Nsyilxcen) language, Suknaquin-Syilx educator Cori Derickson will teach the word ‘friend’ and the phrase, ‘good day.’ Sinixt educators LaRae Wiley and Chris Parkin will also share the Sinixt name for the village at what is now the Big Eddy: Skxkn̓. Louis Thomas will teach the Secwepemc language, Secwepemctsin and Martina Shovar will teach the words in Ktunaxa. The videos will be hosted on the Revelstoke Museum and Archives website.
“I think it’s courteous” to learn these words, said Sinixt/Arrow Lakes facilitator Shelly Boyd. “When people take the time and make the effort to learn our language it shows respect.” Boyd said she appreciates it when people learn how to pronounce Sn̓ʕay̓čkstx, in her N̓səl̓xcin language, acknowledging that it has sounds that are not found in English.
“Our language is a doorway to understanding the natural world that we live in,” Boyd said, “because the first people who lived here have had an understanding of the land since time immemorial. Language opens up a door to a paradigm shift involving how we view the world. That opportunity is for everyone,” not only Indigenous people, she said.
Seven words, one short phrase and six names: that is an achievable and worthwhile learning goal. If all of city council, everyone whose organizations acknowledge those who loved, and still love, the land we now call home, and all interested Revelstokians take the time to learn these words, we will demonstrate our commitment to building meaningful relations. Our lives will be richer for the effort.
What did you think of this story?
Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you
