Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle

09/01/2025

PACE seats sold out! Limited for-credit and regular auditing seats available! Feel free to contact me for more information.

08/28/2025

03/31/2024

Language revitalization and radical politics
For those of you interested in activism that transcends borders and conventional political boundaries…

In his 2005 article ‘Will Indigenous Languages Survive?’ Michael Walsh described language revitalization as ‘profoundly political’. And Jacqueline Urla, in discussing the Basque language movement, …

03/23/2024

Ma Taañt Grace Zoldy: Lifetime Achievement Award

Today, the Gabriel Dumont Institute honored Ma Taañt Grace Zoldy of Camperville, MB with the Order of Gabriel Dumont Gold Award for her lifetime of work dedicated to the revitalization and reclamation of (Southern, aka “Heritage”) Michif!
What a pleasure to see her receive acknowledgement of her contributions to our nation!

02/29/2024

So proud to have nominated Ma Taañt Grace Zoldy and be traveling with her to Saskatoon in March for the ceremony.

The Gabriel Dumont Institute will invest five individuals into the Order of Gabriel Dumont on March 22, 2024, in Saskatoon. The Order of Gabriel Dumont is awarded annually by GDI and is one of the Métis Nation’s highest civilian honours.

🎖Grace Zoldy, Camperville, Manitoba
🎖Christi Belcourt, Espanola, Ontario
🎖Irma Klyne, Balcarres, Saskatchewan
🎖Evelyn Johnston, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
🎖Patricia LaFontaine, Regina, Saskatchewan

It is important to us to recognize the sacrifice and dedication of our Métis Elders, Knowledge Keepers, educators, artists, and advocates who work hard to preserve Métis culture and language. Maarsii (thank you) to this year’s recipients for their years of important community work,” said Brett Vandale, Acting Executive Director, GDI.

Read more on our website here: https://gdins.org/gabriel-dumont-institute-to-invest-five-into-the-order-of-gabriel-dumont/

02/29/2024

The Gabriel Dumont Institute will invest five individuals into the Order of Gabriel Dumont on March 22, 2024, in Saskatoon. The Order of Gabriel Dumont is awarded annually by GDI and is one of the Métis Nation’s highest civilian honours.

🎖Grace Zoldy, Camperville, Manitoba
🎖Christi Belcourt, Espanola, Ontario
🎖Irma Klyne, Balcarres, Saskatchewan
🎖Evelyn Johnston, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
🎖Patricia LaFontaine, Regina, Saskatchewan

It is important to us to recognize the sacrifice and dedication of our Métis Elders, Knowledge Keepers, educators, artists, and advocates who work hard to preserve Métis culture and language. Maarsii (thank you) to this year’s recipients for their years of important community work,” said Brett Vandale, Acting Executive Director, GDI.

Read more on our website here: https://gdins.org/gabriel-dumont-institute-to-invest-five-into-the-order-of-gabriel-dumont/

01/26/2024

Why are so many Métis politicians, opinion leaders and others seemingly uniterested in evidence-based revitalization of Michif/Métis languages?

How Humans Use Strategic Ignorance When Facts Get in the Way

“You can call it fake news just because you think it's inaccurate. You can also say something is fake news because you're being tactical. You're actually trying to undermine the reputation of the news because it doesn't suit your own agenda. But I think this is a third phenomenon we're talking about here, which is you actually want to do something. And you actually believe that if you got all the news about it, you would behave rationally. You would choose to do something different. You don't want to do that, and so you hold this new information at bay.”

Shankar Vendam of NPR, December 22, 2017