*UPDATED * June 18, 2013

Simon Fraser University
Public Affairs and Media Relations (PAMR)
778.782.3210    www.sfu.ca/pamr/

National Aboriginal Day: Part 1 (UPDATED) — Issues, Experts & Ideas

A number of SFU faculty and students are available to comment on the importance of National Aboriginal Day, Friday, June 21 and share thoughts on Aboriginal issues within their area of expertise.

Marianne Ignace, SFU First Nations Language Centre (FNLC) director, can discuss a new research initiative she is leading to help save and revitalize dying First Nations languages in B.C. and the Yukon Territory. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) recently awarded Ignace and a group working with her $2.5 million to collaborate on saving at least 11 First Nations languages.

Starting Wed., June 19 at SFU’s Vancouver campus, Ignace, several Haida language experts and learners, a University of Alberta linguist and a member of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre will meet for three days. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 2260 (Seaboard Life Seminar Room), they’ll brainstorm about creating a computer and tablet application to learn the Haida language Xaad kil in three dialects.

The Stavros foundation helped develop a Greek language learning application that is hugely popular in China. Media wanting to arrange a possible meeting with the group in between their brainstorming sessions should contact Emily Ross, 778.782.5151, ebr@sfu.ca.

Marianne Ignace, 250.574.3869 (daytime, cell), 250.373.2259 (evenings), 250.574.3869 (daytime, June 19-21), ignace@sfu.ca