NEWS

Introducing our new Shadbolt Fellow: Tania Willard

August 28, 2024. We are hosting Tania Willard, MFA, an Indigenous artist, curator, and professor, as a Shadbolt Fellow for the 2024-2025 academic year. Through collaborative projects such as the BUSH Gallery and support of language revitalization in Secwépemc communities, Tania activates connection to land, culture, and family, centering art as an Indigenous resurgent act. 

Read the article.

INLP MA students and Graduate Chair present at IASCL 2024

July 20, 2024. INLL MA students Martina Joe and Randeana Peter​ ​presented their research findings in Prague ​during the XVIth International Congress for the Study of Child Language​.

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Jaskwaan Bedard: In her own words

July 15, 2024. Announcing our newest member of faculty in the Indigenous Languages Program (INLP), Jasḵwaan Bedard. 

Read the interview. 

Dr. Marianne Ignace: Interview with Fairchild Television

July 2, 2024. Dr. Ignace spoke with Cantonese language broadcaster Fairchild TV about our Indigenous language revitalization efforts and the importance of reaching a "critical mass of adult speakers". 

View the video.

Benjamin Chung: Grad Student Profile

June 11, 2024. "I am grateful to have received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master's (SSHRC CGS-M) and departmental Graduate Fellowships to support my research and time at SFU."

Read the profile.

Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ performance of "Princess Tsawassa: A journey of discovery"

May 31, 2024. Students from our INLG 335 class brought to life a Tsawwassen origin story performed entirely in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ for an audience of eighty attendees, hosted by the Tsawwassen First Nation.  

Read the article (including video).

Dr. Heather Bliss and PhD student Lauren Schneider present at WAIL

May 07, 2024. As part of a session titled “Community approaches to Revitalization,” Dr. Heather Bliss delivered a research talk titled Weaving our knowledge together to create a Blackfoot learning hub, centred on Blackfoot language revitalization efforts.

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Dr. Donna Gerdts and Dr. Marianne Ignace receive an award for Excellence in Leadership

March 25, 2024. Both Dr. Ignace and Dr. Gerdts are winners in the Excellence in Leadership category, of the 2022 Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Awards for Excellence in Graduate Studies.  

Read the article.

Halat Kaiya Williams, Indigenous Languages graduate student, is interviewed by North Shore News

March 09, 2024. Halat speaks with North Shore News regarding the Language Nest program.

Read the article. 

SFU Excellence in Teaching Award: Dr. Marianne Ignace

March 06, 2024. Congratulations to Dr. Marianne Ignace on receiving the 2023 SFU Excellence in Teaching Award. Other accolades include the 2020 Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the 2019 Governor General's Award for Innovation.

Read the full story. 

Kèyishí Bessie Cooley, MA: Lifelong Indigenous language advocate dedicates degree to Tlingit heritage

October 04, 2023. "As 79-year-old Kèyishí Bessie Cooley presented her master's degree thesis project at the Yukon Native Language Centre in Whitehorse—interweaving English and Tlingit as she spoke—it marked another milestone in what is already an extraordinarily accomplished life."

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Legacy gift funds scholarship awards for Indigenous language learners

February 01, 2023. Thanks to a generous legacy gift from the Lobstick Foundation, endowments have been created to permanently fund two scholarship awards benefitting Indigenous students, guaranteeing its financial support for Indigenous language learners for many years to come. 

Supporting students enrolled in the Indigenous Languages Program (INLP), the Dr. Aimee August Award in Indigenous Language Proficiency and the Dr. Ruby Peter Graduate Award in Indigenous Language Proficiency were established in honour of their namesakes, who had made great strides in Indigenous language revitalization, instruction, and documentation.

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New master's degree program established to support Indigenous language revitalization

September 26, 2022. This new two-year program focuses entirely on training individuals who will go on to support the reclamation, revitalization, and strengthening of their Indigenous languages.

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The RSC Presents the Class of 2020

September 8, 2020. The Royal Society of Canada celebrated new Fellows in an induction ceremony today for their "outstanding scholary, scientific and artistic achievement." Seven SFU Researchers were elected into the group of 87 Fellows.

Read the press release.

New postdoctoral fellow, Dr. James Crippen (Dzéiwsh), aims to break down myths around Indigenous languages

June 19, 2020. Dr. James Crippen/Dzéiwsh started a Tenure-track appointment in January 2021 at McGill University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics. He was the first postdoctoral fellow in the Indigenous Languages Program in 2020 enabled through Aboriginal Strategic Initiatives.

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Elders and great-grandchildren share the legacy of learning Hul'q'umi'num'

December 16, 2019. CBC News published an article highlighting the work Elder Ruby Peter and the Hul'q'umi'num' Language and Culture Society has done to preserve the Hul'q'umi'num' language. This past spring, four generations of Elder Peter's family received university honours from SFU.

Read the full story.