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GRE donates $250k to Six Nations Language Commission 1045 Brant County Hwy 54 Ohsweken 519-770-3628
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Grand River Enterprises donated $250,000 to the Six Nations Language Commission, bringing the total donations from the tobacco manufacturer to just over $1 million since 2021. The donation coincided with National Indigenous Languages Day on March 31, which was established in 1993 to promote and revitalize Indigenous languages in Canada. The decade from 2022 to 2032 has also been declared the International Decade of Indigenous Languages in a bid to focus on, and revitalize, Indigenous languages worldwide. The Six Nations Language Commission (SNLC) says all six Haudenosaunee languages are considered to be critically endangered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Those languages are Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora. The introduction of residential schools in Canada in the 1800s, aimed at assimilating Indigenous children into Canadian culture, played a role in the reduction of Indigenous language speakers in Canada, as the children were not allowed to speak their native languages at the government-sponsored schools. The SNLC thanked GRE
“GRE is proud to continue our support of Indigenous languages,” said Steve Williams (left), President of Grand River Enterprises. “We think language is very important for the community and for youth in the community. We hope our contribution will help our people have more language learning SUBMITTED opportunities in the future.”
for their “generous and ongoing commitment to Indigenous language revitalization efforts at Six Nations of the Grand River. In recognition of National Indigenous Languages Day, GRE has announced a $250,000 donation to the Six Nations Language Commission, bringing GRE’s total contribution to language revitalization to nearly 1 million dollars since 2021.” GRE presented a
cheque for $250,000 to the SNLC at the Oneida Business Park on Friday morning. “GRE is proud to continue our support of Indigenous languages,” said Steve Williams, President of Grand River Enterprises. “We think language is very important for the community and for youth in the community. We hope our contribution will help our people have more language learn-
ing opportunities in the future.” Amos Keye Jr., Six Nations Elected Councillor, said, “Community support for language revitalization is critical.” Keye Jr. is also the ViceChair of the Six Nations Language Commission Board. “There are many ways community members and community businesses can support this important work,” he said. “I
applaud GRE for their significant contributions and would welcome any other businesses who would like to offer their support as well to come forward and talk with us.” Karen Sandy, coordinator of the Six Nations Language Commission, said stable funding plays a “critical role” in sustaining language revitalization efforts. The SNLC has operated on donations since its inception. “Over the last ten years we have focused heavily on adult immersion language programming,” said Sandy. “Research has confirmed time and time again that adult immersion is the most impactful way to create speakers and help people develop language capacity. We’ve also heard from community that we need a variety of resources, programs and pathways for different levels of learning readiness. This funding will help us respond to both needs, and create more stability for the adult immersion programs we support.” The Six Nations Language Commission currently supports two adult immersion programs on the territory focusing on the Mohawk and Cayuga languages. It is involved with projects that also promote the Onondaga language but eventually hopes to work on programming for all six Haudenosaunee languages.