Gunn-Britt Retter (Saami)" Saami is a golden language, and the language of my heart."

Alexander Arbachakov(Shor) "Our language is our history, our culture, our traditions."

Alona Yefimenko (Chukchi) "My language is my life. Without language, my culture will disappear, and the people disappear as well."

Lars Anders Baer (Saami) "We have an old saying among the Saami that the Saami language is the golden language, because this is the most valuable, and because this is a part of our identity. This also relates to our land, and to our past history."

Carl Christian Olsen, Puju, (Greenlandic) "Language matters. Language is important. Since language can teach the knowledge that we have, we have to bring the language through to the coming generations."

 

Rosemary Cooper (Inuktitut) "Inuktitut, our Inuit language, is our past and our current language, and we need to hold on to it because its a part of our culture."

Jelena Pushkarova (Nenets)

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Rosemarie Kuptana (Inuvialuit Region dialect) "Our language must never be forgotten. Our ancestors used it to survive as we do today. Our future generation will speak our language like our forefathers."

 

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Language Examples (Video)

Digital video is an excellent tool for recording indigenous languages. These brief clips taken with simple digital cameras provide a small illustration of what can be undertaken on a much larger scale. You may need to download the Adobe Flash Player to view the video content on this page.

©2008 Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada)

 

Tatiana Degai (Itelmen) "Lets dance."