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julian.uwo.ca>We are representing a group of First Nations organizations in northern Ontario seeking to develop first and second language curricula for teaching Ojibwe, Oji-Cree (aka Severn Ojibwe), and Cree. These languages are all spoken as first languages by substantial numbers of children and adults, but in recent years there has been increasing pressure from English, and some Ojibwe and Cree children in northern Ontario today appear to be in danger of losing their heritage languages. Our project seeks to implement formal language programs in schools at the primary and secondary levels, in both first and second language programs. The first major phase of our project consisted of work in creating community awareness of the need for Native Language development for formal school settings, as well as an assessment of fluency levels and language usage in the communities we serve. The second phase, currently in progress, has involved the collection of materials and development of student dictionaries in Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, and Fort Severn Cree, as well as the production of language-sensitive style guides to aid students and teachers in syllabic and Roman writing. The third phase will involve the development of extensive language-oriented curricula at all primary and secondary levels. Satellite projects include the development of proposals for a monolingual Oji-Cree dictionary, a structured program of community-based Native language literacy, and a community-based terminology board to aid in the development of new vocabulary. Needless to say, we are very excited about the prospects our project holds for the fostering of the languages with which we work. We are seeking models of materials and curricula from similar efforts undertaken elsewhere. If you have produced materials and programs that you are willing to share with us, we would appreciate very much hearing from you. We are willing to pay for all materials, within our budgetary limitations. I (R. Valentine) have developed several computer applications for language presentation and instruction on the Macintosh computer, which I am happy to share with you in exchange for language materials of your own. We will also be compiling an annotated bibliography of resources, which we will happily share with anyone interested. If you have developed first or second language curricula for aboriginal languages, including course materials focusing on Native language themes, language lessons, dictionaries, pictionaries, computer applications, or anything else that you think might aid us in our efforts to preserve the heritage languages of northern Ontario, please write to us at the email address listed below. Please distribute this notice to any potentially interested groups lacking email access as well. We can be contacted by conventional mail at the following addresses: in the U.S. J. Randolph Valentine American Indian Studies Program 1188 Educational Sciences Building 1025 W. Johnson Street The University of Wisconsin, Madison Madison, Wisconsin 53706 in Canada J. Randolph Valentine / Ifka Filipovich Northern Native Education Council PO Box 1419 21 King St Sioux Lookout, ON P0V-2T0 Thank you. J. Randolph Valentine University of Western Ontario University of Wisconsin, Madison email: rvalentMail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue
iag.tno.nl>Dear linguist networkers, Sorry for this long message, but it is a very important one. Although Sardinian has been recognised as an independent language by linguists, recognition has been severely denied by the central government in Rome. Indeed, the bill on the preservation of the Sardinian language and culture, which has been set up in 1990, is rejected for the second time in the last 14 months. The bill aims for a gradual introduction of the language, history, archaeology, etc. of Sardinia at school. The rejection of the bill is also curious from a constitutional point of view. Since 1948 Sardinia is an autonomous "regione". According to article 5 of the "Statuto Speciale", the Regional Council of Sardinia has the authority to extend and modify the national educational programs. In reaction to this injustice, and because of my great passion for the language and archaeology of Sardinia, I have decided to write a petition. In the petition I have listed several arguments for the preservation of the sardinian cultural patrimony: - The uniqueness of the sardinian language and its ancient culture can only be preserved effectively by legislative means in today's society; - Because of its uniqueness, the sardinian cultural patrimony is an enrichment to the patrimony at national and international level; - Sardinian language is not only an object of research at national level, but it is also studied at an increasing number of universities worldwide (about 20 until now). Much more reasons can be found if anyone familiar with sardinian language and culture reflects on his/her own experiences. Everyone who supports this initiative is welcome to sign the petition on the form attached. Please fill in your personal data in UPPERCASE. You could make several copies of the sheet to let it circulate among relatives, friends, etc. The petition may be signed by anyone who sympathises with the purpose of the petition. Please send the signatures to: Antonio Chessa Teding van Berkhoutlaan 157 2614 AZ DELFT The Netherlands I thank you all in advance. Hoping to hear from you soon, Sincerely Yours, Antonio Chessa PETIZIONE I sottoscritti, soprattutto emigrati e figli di emigrati sardi, esprimono la loro indignazione per la decisione del governo centrale che ha bocciato la legge regionale per la "Tutela e valorizzazione della lingua e della cultura della Sardegna". L'opposizione del governo di Roma e il ricorso alla Corte Costituzionale hanno provocato la dichiarazione di illegittimita di alcuni articoli del testo presentato e la virtuale decapitazione della legge. Governo e Corte Costituzionale si sono dunque trovati schierati sullo stesso fronte a impedire di fatto la tutela della specificita della nostra cultura negando l'introduzione graduale dell'insegnamento nelle scuole pubbliche della lingua, della storia, della letteratura, della geografia della Sardegna. I SOTTOSCRITTI SONO CONVINTI che la salvaguardia di una cultura antichissima e unica, delle sue tradizioni e valori, non possa darsi se non attraverso la difesa della lingua, l'insegnamento della sua storia, della sua letteratura, della sua arte, della sua archeologia; che la difesa della specificita della cultura sarda, cosi come di tutte le minoranze linguistiche sparse sul territorio nazionale, costituisca un motivo di orgoglio e di arricchimento per il patrimonio culturale dell'intera nazione. I FIRMATARI DI QUESTA PETIZIONE vivendo all'estero da molti anni, sono consapevoli e orgogliosi dell'interesse che gli stranieri manifestano non solo per le bellezze naturali della Sardegna, ma per la sua storia, le sue tradizioni, la sua lingua. Prova di questo interesse e il numero crescente di Universita (circa venti finora) in cui la lingua sarda e studiata. PERTANTO si rivolgono al Ministro della Pubblica Istruzione, alle forze politiche piu sensibili a livello regionale e nazionale, ai connazionali in patria e all'estero, perche si faccia il possibile affinche siano reinserite nei programmi scolastici regionali le discipline ora escluse dalla decisione del governo. Perche sia scongiurata la possibilita che lo studio del sardo si trasformi nello studio di una lingua morta e venga esorcizzato il timore espresso nei versi del nostro poeta Frantziscu Masala: A unu pobulu li podes leare totu: A people can be taken away everything: Ma si li lassas sa limba But if you leave its language Custu pobulu sighit a esistere; This people will live on; A unu pobulu li podes lassare totu: A people can be left everything: Ma si li leas sa limba But if you take away its language Custu pobulu no esistit pius. This people doesn't exist no more. FORM FOR COLLECTING SIGNATURES Name, surname: _____________________ Name, surname: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Signature: Signature: Name, surname: _____________________ Name, surname: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Signature: Signature: Name, surname: _____________________ Name, surname: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Signature: Signature: Name, surname: _____________________ Name, surname: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Signature: Signature: Name, surname: _____________________ Name, surname: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Signature: Signature: Name, surname: _____________________ Name, surname: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Signature: Signature: Name, surname: _____________________ Name, surname: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Signature: Signature: Name, surname: _____________________ Name, surname: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Post.code, city: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Country: _____________________ Signature: Signature:Mail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue