March 31 is National Indigenous Languages Day. It is a day to honour the many Indigenous languages spoken across Canada and to build support for their preservation.
Saskatchewan RCMP would like to recognize the importance of the Indigenous languages spoken in Saskatchewan. They include Nêhiyawêwin (Plains Cree), Nêhinawêwin (Swampy Cree), Nîhithawîwin (Woods Cree), Nahkawêwin (Saulteaux), Nakota, Dakota, Lakota, Dene and Michif.
Learning to say a few words like "hello" and "thank you" in the languages of the communities we police is a great way to build strong connections and strengthen relationships with those communities. To this end, Saskatchewan RCMP recently produced a video on the Dene language spoken in Saskatchewan. Dene is the second most commonly spoken First Nations language in Saskatchewan.
In this video, Saskatchewan RCMP employees Chanda Hetzel and Lorna Janvier discuss the Dene language and what is being done by community members to keep the language strong in La Loche, Saskatchewan.
The video has been made available to all Saskatchewan RCMP employees today. We wish to share it with all Saskatchewanians to help celebrate the beauty and importance of Indigenous languages.
Don't hesitate to share it, mahsi chogh!
To view the full video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fj47Et7t0c