Indigenous Languages on Google Earth: Level 2 transcript
Kas Roussy / CBC News Reporter: (Speaking to Keren Rice / University of Toronto): OK, let's click here.
Languages around the world are disappearing at an alarming rate.
(Speaking to Keren Rice): This is in British Columbia. So, we'll hear a greeting now.
But with the click of the mouse and with the help of Google Earth, more than 50 Indigenous languages around the world are coming to life.
(Man speaking Plains Cree)
Kas Roussy: With recorded audio clips of greetings, chants, and even a few traditional songs.
(Indigenous woman singing)
Mandy Jones: One of the basic greetings that we use here in Hul'q'umi'num' is asking, 'how are you?' 'li ch 'o' 'uy' 'ul' (repeated)
Kas Roussy: Mandy Jones is among one of the seven Indigenous persons from Canada featured in the Google Earth project.
Mandy Jones: My hope is that people see it and want to learn more about the language in our territory. They'll hear the word Hul'q'umi'num', and they'll say, "Hmmm…that must be from Nanimo. I gotta find out more about this."
Kas Roussy: Google Earth has the same objectives to raise awareness of languages and help preserve them, too. Through the years, Jones worked hard to preserve her traditional language and today teaches the language to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on Vancouver Island.
Two people speaking in Hul'q'umi'num': How are you? / I am well. / It is great to see you today. Thank you.)
Mandy Jones: If we lose our language, we lose our culture. (If) we lose our culture, we lose our language.
Keren Rice / University of Toronto: You think of the residential school situation…People were punished for speaking their languages. They went back home. They were afraid to speak the languages.
Kas Roussy: She says the fact that the Good Earth project coincides with the UN International Year of Indigenous Languages is a cause for celebration.
Keren Rice: What it does is value the language, and it shows that it's something that's important to people. It shows the relationship of language with land because they're talking about where they come from.
Kas Roussy: Talking and celebrating a language that for many was taken from them so long ago.
Kas Roussy, CBC News Toronto