Nestuin Wiaqi - Elmi’knik Kekina’muemkewey: A community-engaged research approach for accessing linguistic resurgence, revitalization, and reclamation efforts.

Ashley Julian-Rikihana

Impact

  • The findings will fill the gaps in literacy transmission and literacy practices that promotes the preservation of the Mi’kmaq language.

  • The involvement of culture and language use in parental programs within community are now a priority. This includes community recruitment if facilitators are non-Indigenous health practitioners.

  • The community will continue the work towards ongoing language immersion frameworks for head start and pre-primary education.

  • The use of Mi’kmaq basket weaving as a visual metaphor and ontology for storytelling with Elders nurtures the Mi’kmaq language as the foundation of cultural identity and the well-being of communities.

  • The researcher's project highlighted the need for cultural and language integration in community health programs, especially in pre- and post-natal services. Previously led by non-indigenous professionals, the researcher continues to emphasize these aspects in health center parental programs post-studentship.

  • Nova Scotia

  • Studentship

  • Acadia University

  • Sipekne’katik Health Center

  • Mitacs

  • 2021-2022

  • Indigenous Community Health

  • Indigenous Populations

About the Project

The researcher examined the current programs that preserve and revitalize the Mi’kmaq culture and language for parents, guardians, infants and toddlers. The project also investigated current efforts made by families to uphold their language and the obstacles they encountered in terms of parents/guardians participating in language learning and communication. The overall objective of this project was to use language revitalization and inter-generational transmission as a tool for community mental health and well-being.

Methodology

17 families were recruited through Indigenous recruitment strategies to participate in group discussions (in the form of talking circles), narrative sharing and self-reflection (journaling). These recruitment strategies depicted the nuanced process of collaboratively creating storytelling with participants while also integrating their own encounters with community knowledge.  

Findings

  • Considerable efforts were crucial in promoting the passing down of language revitalization from one generation to another.

  • With a huge gap in research on language trauma, it is important to do this research to determine the percentage of families affected by intergenerational trauma and are, consequently, unable to speak the Mi’kmaq language.

  • Canada’s residential school system severed Indigenous children's connection to their culture and language and must work to restore what was taken.

Project Outreach

This project was based within the community of Sipekne’katik and included community band members.

Resources Created

  • Mi’kmaq lexicons were giving to participants. Mi’kmaq children’s songs were translated into Mi’kmaw language and are used at parental program, Baby and Tiny Tots and Me.

  • 1 presentation

    • Julian-Rikihana, A. (2023) Nestuin Wiaqi - Elmi’knik Kekina’muemkewey: A community-engaged research approach for accessing linguistic resurgence, revitalization, and reclamation efforts. Canadian Association for the Study of Indigenous Education (CASIE), Congress. York University, Toronto, June.