Aboriginal Identity And The Importance Of Language

The Atlas Of Canada
Canadian Dialect Map

Doug Dan mentioned in August that Canadians and most Westerners look at Aboriginals in the same context. "They think we are all the same, and that we all speak the same language, they put us all in the same pot ". "He also believes that there is not enough information on just how different Aboriginal Canadians are, not only in the different dialects spoken, but how different the cultures are from each other".

On the Natural Resources Canada website, The Atlas Of Canada reports that there are at least 50 different languages that are spoken by Aboriginal Canadians, and they have divided these different languages into 11 distinctive groups throughout the country.

Doug says that there are perhaps five different languages spoken in St'at'imc nation territory, and that Salish is one of the predominant dialects used within this region.

It is very important in this age of instant communication that we all celebrate the differences in Aboriginal Canadians, and that we continue to support this and encourage the development of the different dialects, and ensure that the young are taught the dialects that are native to the region that they live in.

Please feel free to add a comment and tell us what Dialect you speak if you are an Aboriginal Canadian.

University Of Calgary-Aboriginal Languages Study.