In collaboration with The First Peoples Radio, we are proud to launch an exciting initiative dedicated to preserving, promoting, and breathing new life into Indigenous languages across Canada through the power of podcasting. Together, we can amplify voices and stories that are vital to our cultural fabric.
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What is Amplifying Voices?
"Amplifying Voices" is the culmination of efforts by over 60 Indigenous language keepers, broadcasters, academics, and experts. Guided by a respected Indigenous advisory group of elders, authors, and language specialists, this project is a celebration of resilience, heritage, and community. It aims to:
Enhance
Elevate the quality and depth of Indigenous language programming produced by radio broadcasters.
Expand
Broaden the reach and availability of Indigenous language content on air and online.
Inspire
Create meaningful connections and spark inspiration within Indigenous communities nationwide.
Cameron Adams is ininiw-Anishinaabe and French-Canadian with Scottish and English ancestry from Gimli, Manitoba and Treaty from Memewiziibiing (Berens River), situated in Treaty 5 Territory.
Isabel Scribe is a member of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, also known as Cross Lake in Northern Manitoba. Isabel is a fluent speaker of the Swampy Cree language.
Grace Schedler and Joyce Noonin are knowledge keepers. Over the past 20 years, the two have worked to implement sacred eagle feathers into Manitoba’s court system.
Clayton Sandy, a knowledge keeper and cultural advisor from Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation, has dedicated 38 years to educating non-Indigenous people about Indigenous history. Throughout his career, he has worked in various provincial government departments.
Dennis Chartrand grew up in Duck Bay, Manitoba, and is deeply connected to Anishinaabemowin, viewing it as a vital source of Indigenous expression, cultural identity, and a means of healing from colonial impacts.
Robert Maytwayashing is Anishinaabe, raised in his people on the Lake Manitoba First Nation in Manitoba’s Interlake Region. Robert is also a pipe carrier and sweat lodge keeper.
Mary Maytwayashing, Strong Standing Golden Eagle, is from Lake Manitoba First Nations, also known as Dog Creek. She is a mother of three and grandmother to eleven. She is fluent in her language of Anishinaabemowin, which is spiritual and sacred to her people.
Martha Peet was born in an igloo in Taloyoak, where only four other families lived. She is a freelance interpreter, translator, and author of the Inuktitut Pocket Book. Martha grew up with parents who were closely tied to the land. This informed much of her early years and life.
Edna Elias, an educator, politician, and trilingual speaker of Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, and English, served as the 4th commissioner of Nunavut from 2010 to 2015 and has been a lifelong advocate for Inuit language, culture, and history. Beginning her career as a teacher and principal, she transitioned into politics, where she served as mayor of Qurluqtuq, co-chaired the Northwest Territories Aboriginal Language Task Force, and directed the Language Bureau for the territorial government.
Beverly Siliuyaq Amos is an Inuvialuk from the Western Arctic. She was born in Tuktoyaktuk Nunavut and grew up in Sachs Harbour. Beverly grew up with her Inuvialuktun language and hopes to inspire others to learn.
Your support is pivotal in sustaining our community media initiatives, advancing Indigenous projects, providing media training, and fostering youth and kids initiatives that directly impact over 30 ethnocultural communities.
To support the expansion of Indigenous language content, materials from the Amplifying Voices Initiative are available upon request. This initiative aims to increase the presence of Indigenous languages on the airwaves.
If your organization is interested in sharing these stories, please contact info@u-channel.ca.
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