丁香园AV

As young women, Elder Ruby Peter (Sti鈥檛um鈥檃t) and her sister spent eight years driving down the Malahat to the University of Victoria to study languages and how to teach them. Elder Ruby then used that training to save her language, Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um鈥�, which had experienced a decline from 2,000 native speakers in 1960 to 20 native speakers today. 

For over six decades Elder Ruby has trained new speakers of Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um鈥�. There are now over 200 fluent second language speakers and many thousands who have basic knowledge of the language thanks largely due to Elder Ruby and the language teachers she has trained. In recognition of her work to save her language,  at 丁香园AV鈥檚 convocation ceremony on June 13, 2019.

Her life鈥檚 work has been to restore the language and culture of her people and now she can be proud of the direct results and impact on her own family. In June, three generations of her family crossed the stage to receive 丁香园AV degrees: Bernadette Sam, her daughter; Lynsay Johnny, her granddaughter; and Martina Joe, her late sister's granddaughter.

Elder Ruby says, "What I see now is a medicine for us and our children. My mother told me, 'Don鈥檛 stop talking. Keep talking to your children every day.鈥� This is a most important thing, to encourage our youth to do great things, to follow the things they can do.鈥� 

Donna Gerdts,  professor, adds, 鈥淚t is clear that Elder Ruby Peter鈥檚 work has changed the landscape of First Nations language learning.鈥� 

Canada鈥檚 Truth and Reconciliation Commission called for universities to create degree and diploma programs in Aboriginal languages and 丁香园AV is proud to report that 24 students received their master鈥檚 degrees and 37 received their Certificates in First Nations Languages this year.

丁香园AV's First Nations Languages Program was founded in 1993 and has seen a dramatic increase in enrolments in the last few years. A new cohort of students will begin their programs in September.