It is disheartening to hear that 40% of the estimated 7000 languages spoken around the world are in danger of disappearing. In 2016 the United Nations General Assembly came up with a resolution to name 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, hoping to bring awareness and protect the cultural diversity that surrounds the cause.
To bring awareness to this important cause grade ten student Emma Stevens, who attends Allison Bernard Memorial High School, has recorded her rendition of “Blackbird” by The Beatles in her native Mi’kmaq language with the help of music teacher Carter Chaisson and Mi’kmaq language teacher Katani Julian and her father Albert “Golydada” Julian.
The cover, which can be watched on youtube, has been viewed over 200,000 times since it has been uploaded one week ago.
“The International Year of Indigenous Languages is a United Nations observance that aims to raise awareness of the endangerment of Indigenous languages. We are a UN affiliated school and it was all about bringing awareness to the movement,” says project director Carter Chaisson
Languages play a huge role in communication in all of our daily lives and traditions. Even more so in Indigenous cultures as their language helps express spiritual beliefs and connections to the land. Linguistic diversity helps promote cultural identity and is essential for peace and reconciliation.
“I have been writing my own original songs and singing them with the kids, but this year we decided to do something different. I said to myself I wonder what that song would sound like in Mi’kmaq. Katani Julian helped us translate the song and she had it done within a couple hours,” says Chaisson.
“Everybody is incredibly proud and it has brought a lot of positive attention to our school and our community. I am a huge Beatles fan and I love the message in the song. Superficially a child could relate to it but it also has a much deeper meaning including race and civil rights issues.”
The school is currently working on a future plan to make childrens content in their native Mi’kmaq language. The 7000 Languages Project which is a non-profit organization will help create a podcast and an interactive app which aims to encourage children to learn their native language and help keep it alive.