Indigenous languages ~Use it or lose it

    Indigenous cultures, customs and language are being silenced as the roar of rampant globalization and modern assimilation becomes deafening. Endangered culture and language preservation is a mandate. Language loss can be destructive to both individuals and communities alike. Research shows that cultural knowledge is preserved and passed on through language. Therefore, culture is also lost when language disappears, making language loss an urgent and extremely important issue that needs to be addressed.

It’s alarming, but in a few years, cultural traditions and even language steeped in centuries of tradition can vanish from the pressure to adopt modernity.

While all people seek to discover a “better” way of life, abandoning the use of ones indigenous language rich with ancient codes of culture and meaning does not make for better world.  Progress should always be encouraged, but not at the expense of lost cultural traditions and languages.

Guidelines listed by UNESCO indicate six stages of language vulnerability: safe, vulnerability, definitely endangered, severely endangered, critically endangered, and extinct.

Mopan Maya is classified by the UN as an endangered language in Belize. Other languages are vulnerable as well. With such diverse communities in one country it is important to acknowledge all of the languages that in turn provide worldviews of each ethnic group. Therefore, avocation for indigenous langauges is a worthwhile endeavor.  We believe technology can help.

We believe the best way to advocate and support indigenous languages is to provide technology resources and training aligned with indigenous educational and social and cultural organizations.

 Strong Villages is excited about supporting  a Digital Culture Preservation Project. Our goal is simple. Use technology to assist indigeneous students as they:

Hi-Tech in Natural places

Using a simple Digital Video Kit, students can be taught to:

Signifigance

Through student film projects, indigenous language may be supported in ways unlike the past, where knowledge could be lost when elders pass on and no one remembers.   These stories and knowledge are part of the indigenous fabric. It’s how we support use of some technology and film training for students as they and their teachers decide the cultural significance to their projects. To preserve history in the making, teachers and student film makers of indigenous populations are supported through programs provided by Strong Villages.