Language is an important part of a culture and in the Indigenous groups of Canada, language can often be a link to traditions. However, many Indigenous languages are becoming extinct as fewer people are able to communicate with these languages. An important part of Indigenous languages that are often overlooked is Indigenous Sign Language.
In Canada, the three main sign languages are Plains Sign Language, Plateau Sign Language and Inuit Sign Language. Sign Language in Indigenous culture was created by Deaf Indigenous people but it is not necessarily for deaf people. People with full hearing capabilities also used sign language to visually narrate their discussion or to communicate during hunting.
The endangerment of Indigenous Sign Language is similar to the loss of Indigenous spoken languages. The number of people who can communicate with Indigenous sign languages is difficult to ascertain but it is speculated that a few community members in the Plains know Plains Sign Language while Plateau Sign Language is only partially known by a couple of elders. Inuit Sign Language is known by about 80 hearing individuals and 40 Deaf Inuit, but a similar issue in disappearing Indigenous spoken languages is still present. Indigenous Sign Language provides deaf First Nations individuals with a chance to participate in their community and connect with their Indigenous spoken language, but that chance can become null if Indigenous Sign Languages do become extinct.
For my project, I would like to promote the revitalization of Indigenous Sign Languages to all Canadians. Many deaf Indigenous people today use ASL (American Sign Language) or QSL (Quebec Sign Language) as the resources for learning Indigenous Sign Languages are often underfunded and not available because of colonization where people were not allowed to use their language. Revitalizing Indigenous Sign Languages is another piece of tradition and culture that people should be aware of when working towards Truth and Reconciliation.
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Research Links:
- https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-people-languages
- https://www.ucalgary.ca/dflynn/sign
- https://thetyee.ca/News/2018/09/13/Fighting-Save-Indigenous-Sign-Languages/
- https://thetyee.ca/News/2018/08/27/Secrets-Indigenous-Hand-Talkers/