“Help yourself and help one another.”

INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES PROGRAM

The SFU Indigenous Languages Program (INLP), formerly, First Nations Languages, is inspired by and a continuation of the award-winning SFU Kamloops Program from which Indigenous Studies programs, Indigenous language proficiency programs and language courses were originally developed and offered. Between 1988 and 2011, more than 400 students graduated from the SFU Kamloops Program with SFU credentials, including Certificates, Diplomas, BA, BGS and BEd degrees. Through Community Academic Outreach Programming (FNEP), students completed Major and Minor programs in concentrations such as Anthropology and Sociology, Linguistics, Indigenous Studies, and Archaeology.

The mission of INLP and its Community Academic Outreach programs since our inception has been the collective and individual empowerment of Indigenous peoples through education, taking into account First Nations' own knowledge systems, histories, ways of being and learning. Aware of the powerful role that Indigenous languages and language  revitalization play for the present and future identity, well-being and wholeness of Indigenous peoples and communities, the Indigenous Languages Program works with speech communities and organizations to enable Indigenous language learning off campus in First Nations communities. Since 1993 and in partnership with Indigenous organizations, we have offered courses in some 18 languages in British Columbia and Yukon.

Our Program motto is “Help yourself and help one another."