We need your help! FPCC is looking for people who are knowledgeable about the language in their communities to contribute to the Language Status Assessmment.
What is the Language Status Assessment and Why is it Important?
FPCC has been publishing data on the status of B.C. First Nations languages every four years since 2010. The data from First Nations communities shows the number of fluent speakers, semi-speakers, learners and more, across all First Nations languages. It is critical information that helps communities assess progress over time and has helped FPCC advocate for funding for communities. The results are reported publicly in the Report on the Status of First Nations Languages.
The Language Status Assessment is a survey that takes 1-2 hours to complete, including speaking to people in the community. To recognize this time commitment, we offer an honorarium of $500 to complete the survey. While we prefer specific counts of speakers, semi-speakers and learners from your community, estimates are also accepted.
How you can help
Typically, to complete an assessment someone in the community who knows about the language speakers will sit down with the membership clerk. You will go through the membership list together to make estimates about the numbers of speakers, semi-speakers and learners. As part of the process, you will also contact people managing language programs in the community, community schools and daycare centres for input.
If you can speak to someone who knows a lot about what’s happening with your language, like a fluent speaker or language teacher, it could take as little as an hour to complete the assessment.
This survey is really important because:
- It helps government and funders to understand that support for First Nations languages is effective and necessary. This helps us to advocate for more community funding!
- It helps nations to support language plans for their communities and assess if their programs are creating speakers.
- It identifies those languages that need increased support and those who may have knowledge to share with others.
- The reports show us that the number of speakers is increasing! It is possible for everyone to become a First Nations language speaker.
How to participate
If you have connections to language work in the communities listed below, we would love to hear from you so we can discuss how you can support this important research project. Please contact Suzanne at LSA@fpcc.ca.
Communities
| Binche Whut’en First Nation | Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation | Shxw’owhamel First Nation |
| Blueberry River First Nations | Lower Nicola Indian Band | Shxwhá:y Village |
| Boothroyd Band | Mamalilikulla First Nation | Sik-e-Dakh |
| Boston Bar First Nation | McLeod Lake Indian Band | Siska Indian Band |
| Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN) | Nazko First Nation | Skuppah Indian Band |
| Coldwater Indian Band | Nicomen Indian Band | Skwah First Nation |
| Cook’s Ferry Indian Band | Nooaitch Indian Band | Soowahlie Indian Band |
| Da’naxda’xw First Nation | Oregon Jack Creek Band | Spuzzum First Nation |
| Daylu Dena Council | Pacheedaht First Nation | Tl’esqox |
| Dease River First Nation | Peters Band | Tl’etinqox |
| Gitsegukla | Prophet River First Nation | Tlatlasikwala |
| Hagwilget Village Council | Qayqayt First Nation | Ulkatcho First Nation |
| Hupacasath First Nation | SEMYOME (Semiahmoo) | Union Bar Band |
| Lheidli T’enneh First Nation | Shackan Indian Band | Yakweakwioose Band |
We are enormously grateful for everyone’s participation as B.C. is the only province that gathers this important information and provides a public report on our First Nations languages. With your support, we are proud to be a leader in this work in Canada.
To view the results of earlier assessments please check out the previous Status Reports here.
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