Secwepemctsin
First Nations
Secwepemctsin
Secwepemctsin A – Language of the Secwepemc Secwepemctsin contains the cultural, ecological, and historical knowledge which includes: values, beliefs, rituals, songs, stories, social and political structures and spirituality of the people. The Secwepemc view all aspects of their knowledge, including language, as vitally linked to the land. This knowledge, passed down to the next generations orally, contained the teachings necessary for maintenance of Secwepemc culture and identity. As the Secwepemc were given the land; they were also given a language. Language was given to the Secwepemc by the Creator for communication to the people and to the natural world. This communication created a reciprocal and cooperative relationship between them and the natural world which allowed the Secwepemc enabled them to survive and flourish in harsh environments. For example, the Secwepemc receive messages from the animals and birds who tell them when it is time to harvest and gather certain foods and medicines. The cricket will tell the Secwepemc when it is time to catch the salmon. The language connects the land and the people. The language contains the mental, physical, and spiritual connectedness of the Secwepemc to the land. It protects and maintains all forms of Secwepemc knowledge, It keeps the people whole and connected to the Creator. It maintains the Secwepemc responsibility to the land. The language contains traditional ecological knowledge needed to protect biodiversity and it is used to transmit all forms of knowledge to future generations. Secwepemctsin (language of the Secwepemc) Secwepemctsin (language of the Secwepemc) is one of the Interior Salish languages of the large Salishan language family. Secwepemctsin sound system consists of 43 consonants and 5 vowels. Many of these sounds are not found in the English language and are difficult to learn. The present writing system for Secwepemctsin was developed by a Dutch linguist (Kuipers) approximately twenty years ago. Until that time, Secwepemctsin remained an oral language. The Kuipers system of writing Secwpemctsin is not accurate as the vowel sounds do not represent the Secwepemc sounds accurately. The international alphabet system much more accurately represents the Secwepemc sounds. (text copied from http://www.landoftheshuswap.com/msite/lang.php )
State of the Language
Footnotes / References
1. Language Data from Secwepemc Cultural Education Society (2012), Language Needs Assessment #2092 2. Language Data from Esketemc First Nation (2008), Language Needs Assessment #1000 3. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (2008). First Nation Registered Population. 4. Language Data from Chief Atahm School, Adams Lake Band (2011), Language Needs Assessment #2300 5. Language Data from Skeetchestn Community School (2012), Language Needs Assessment #2469 6. Language Data from Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn (2011), Language Needs Assessment #2176 7. Language Data from Spi7uy Squqluts Language Culture Society (2007), Language Needs Assessment #756 8. Language Data from Kamloops Indian Band (2012), Language Needs Assessment #2479 9. Language Data from Soda Creek Indian Band First Nations (2010), Language Needs Assessment #1931 Audio Clip References |
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