Our languages are our identity.
On June 21, 2014, to coincide with National Aboriginal Day, the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) partnered with the communities we serve and the Royal BC Museum to deliver a language exhibition called Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in B.C.
The province of B.C. is one of the planet’s most linguistically diverse regions. From a global perspective, it’s known as a linguistic hotspot because of the diversity and vitality of Indigenous languages. The exhibit includes all 34 languages which are still spoken.
Our Living Langauges celebrates resiliency and showcases the diversity of Indigenous languages in B.C. It celebrates the communities that are working hard to ensure our languages will thrive in the future. By telling this important story, FPCC is supporting, enhancing and encouraging language revitalization through building an understanding of the complexity of this work.
Visitors to the interactive exhibit learn how Indigenous communities are taking action to help their languages survive and flourish.
Featuring Indigenous artwork, video and audio, Our Living Languages provides visitors with the opportunity to see a snapshot of our collective work, hear some of our stories, and learn about the people who are working tirelessly to document and revitalize them.
In 2015, the Royal BC Museum won the American Alliance of Museums Excellence in Exhibition Competition for Our Living Languages. The exhibition was one of only four entries—of the 37 submitted by some of the world’s most innovative and progressive museums—to receive this annual award.