About Us
Language revitalization within SILR is a holistic practice that intertwines linguistic preservation with cultural, spiritual, and intergenerational healing, supporting identity, ceremony, and land-based knowledge while empowering communities to reclaim and sustain their sovereignty.
- SILR Mid-term Evaluation Report 2024
SILR Approach
Community-centred
Work with partners in different communities to define their unique notions of community and ensure effective engagement and participation.
Adaptive Language Programs
Modify and expand language programs to support the use of Indigenous languages in multiple domains.
Research and Wise Practices
Capture and broadly share research and wise practices across program and policy spaces.
Cultural and Contextual Understanding
Recognize and collaborate with diverse Indigenous communities, communities not residing in a particular place, and community organizations/businesses such as schools, translation firms, and NGOs.
SILR Process
Connecting
The program supports safe spaces for healing, belonging, and cultural pride.
Speaking
It focuses on increasing the use of Indigenous languages.
Teaching
There is an emphasis on increasing the capacity of Elders, parents, teachers, and instructors to nurture language fluency.
Learning
The program undertakes research, acquires knowledge, and shares evidence and wise practices on language revitalization.
Leading
Leaders in education systems are encouraged to advocate for and influence language revitalization.
Getting to Know SILR
In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action, the Supporting Indigenous Language Revitalization (SILR) project aims to support Indigenous language sovereignty through community-led initiatives that protect, preserve, promote, revitalize, transfer, strengthen, and sustain languages.
SILR envisions a future where Indigenous languages in Canada are healthy, vibrant, and widely used across generations and in various domains, such as homes, schools, workplaces, and on the land. This vision is supported by integrating appropriate language revitalization approaches and tools into community and educational policies and practices.
About the SILR Logo
- The circle symbolizes the ongoing journey of language revitalization within culture and community.
- The figures huddled around the turtle represent the people within communities who are collectively undertaking the work of language revitalization.
- The turtle is representative of all the languages on Turtle Island and also represents truth.
- The number of people and shapes on the turtle's back is representative of the seven sacred teachings.