First Peoples' Cultural Council facts for kids

The First Peoples' Cultural Council (FPCC) is a special organization in British Columbia, Canada. It is led by First Nations people. FPCC helps keep Indigenous languages, arts, and cultures alive and strong. It is based in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, on the land of the Tsartlip First Nation.

FPCC started in 1990. It was created to offer programs and services that support Indigenous culture. The organization used to have a longer name, but it was shortened in 2012.

FPCC works to:

• Give money to First Nations groups for their cultural and language programs.
• Help and guide governments and First Nations leaders on cultural projects.
• Offer tools and help to bring back the rich cultural traditions of First Nations people.
• Speak up for First Nations heritage and culture.

The BC Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation provides the main funding for FPCC. Other money comes from working with different groups, like the BC Arts Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The logo for the First Peoples' Cultural Council.

Programs That Help First Nations Culture

FPCC has many programs to help First Nations languages and arts.

FirstVoices: Saving Languages Online

FirstVoices is an amazing online library for Indigenous languages. Communities can use it to store their language details. This includes how words are spelled, alphabets, spoken dictionaries, phrases, songs, and stories. It also has a fun way to learn languages. More than 60 communities use FirstVoices. About 35 of these are open for everyone to explore.

FirstVoices Apps: Learn on Your Phone

FirstVoices has made 13 apps for Apple and Android phones. These apps are like interactive dictionaries. They have text, audio, pictures, and videos. You can download them for free from app stores.

These apps include many Indigenous languages spoken in British Columbia. Some examples are Ehattesaht, Halq'eméylem, Hlg̲aagilda X̲aayda Kil, Ktunaxa, Kwak'wala, and Nisg̲a'a.

FirstVoices Keyboards: Text in Your Language

The FirstVoices Keyboards app lets you type in Indigenous languages on your phone. Regular phone keyboards often do not have the special characters needed for these languages. This app helps people text, email, and use social media in their own languages. It works for over 100 Indigenous languages in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA.

Language Tutor: Online Language Lessons

In 2009, FirstVoices launched the Language Tutor. This online tool helps people learn languages. It offers lessons to build vocabulary, understand what you read, and practice listening and speaking. Teachers can customize lessons for different age groups. They can also track how students are doing.

Language Lab: Learn Anywhere

The FirstVoices Language Lab is an iPad app. It lets you use Language Tutor lessons even without internet access. It's like having a portable language classroom.

Language Programs: Bringing Languages Back

FPCC runs several programs to help bring First Nations languages back to life.

Language Nests: Learning for Little Ones

• These programs offer language immersion for young children and their families. This happens through day-care and after-school care. The First Nations Health Authority helps fund these nests.

Language Revitalization Planning: Community Plans

• This program brings together communities that speak the same language. They work together to create a plan to bring their language back.

Mentor-Apprentice Program: Learning from Elders

• This program connects an Elder who speaks the language fluently with someone who wants to learn. They work together for one year. The goal is for the learner to become fluent and then teach others.

Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI): Federal Support

• This program gets money from the Canadian government. It helps communities keep, bring back, and share First Nations languages.

B.C. Languages Initiative (BCLI): Provincial Support

• This program is funded by the province of British Columbia. It supports projects that help bring First Nations languages back to life in B.C.

First Peoples' Language Map of British Columbia

• This is an online map that shows where different First Nations languages are spoken in B.C.
• On the map, you can find a list of First Nations in B.C. You can also learn about their language and where they live.
• All the information on the map comes from First Nations communities. They can add new information and update their sections whenever they want.

Silent Speaker Program: Finding Your Voice

• The Silent Speaker Course helps people who understand their First Nations language but do not speak it. It is based on a successful program from Norway and Sweden. This program helps people overcome challenges that stop them from speaking their Indigenous language.

Language and Culture Camps: Immersion Fun

• These camps started in 2008. They give First Nations families, Elders, youth, and children a chance to be fully surrounded by their languages and cultures. This program is currently on hold.

Endangered Language Project: Global Effort

• The Endangered Languages Project (ELP) started in 2012. It is a worldwide effort to help languages that are at risk of disappearing. FPCC is one of the groups that helped start this project.

Arts Programs: Supporting Artists

FPCC also supports First Nations artists and art groups. They offer funding, mentorship, workshops, and help groups grow.

Indigenous Arts Program (IAP): Grants for Artists

FPCC works with the BC Arts Council to give money to Indigenous artists and art groups. Artists can apply for funding in different areas. This includes support for new artists, sharing traditional arts, and help for art organizations.

Indigenous Music Initiative (IMI): Growing Music Talent

Working with Creative BC, this program helps Indigenous musicians, projects, and events. It aims to help more Indigenous people work in the music industry. It also helps strengthen B.C.'s Indigenous music scene by sharing knowledge and creating new business chances.

Artists can get funding for things like becoming a music professional, recording music, touring, and marketing.

Online Arts Toolkit: Resources for Artists

This online toolkit gives Indigenous artists helpful information. It includes guides on how to write grant applications and how to create an art portfolio.

Resources: Learning About Languages

FPCC also creates resources to teach people in British Columbia about Indigenous languages. They highlight that many of these languages are at risk.

The First Peoples' Language Map of British Columbia shows the different language areas in the province. It also has detailed information about First Nations and their languages. This information comes from communities who share their language needs with FPCC. The map's information grows as communities provide updates.

Reports on B.C. First Nations Languages

FPCC publishes reports on the state of First Nations languages in B.C. These reports give facts and figures. They show how many people speak the languages, how many students are learning, and what resources are available.

The 2010 report found that:

• Only 5% of the people surveyed spoke a First Nations language fluently. Most of these speakers were over 65 years old.
• About 8% of people said they were "semi-fluent." This means they understood some of the language.
• Many students in First Nations schools were not learning a First Nations language.
• The report warned that many First Nations languages could disappear in a few years if things did not change.

The 2014 report looked at the situation again. It found:

• In 2014, about 4% of the population surveyed spoke a First Nations language fluently.
• The number of semi-fluent speakers increased.
• Many semi-fluent speakers were under 25 years old.
• More communities had recordings of their language available. This number more than doubled since 2010.

Additional Resources

Language Legislation: Government Support

In 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian government would create a law to help bring Indigenous languages back. He said the goal was to protect and revitalize First Nations, Métis, and Inuit languages.

FPCC held meetings in 2017 to talk about this new law. Their goal was to make sure B.C. language experts were ready to share their ideas. FPCC put together a report from these meetings. They also encouraged First Nations communities to write their own ideas to send to the government.

Images for kids

• 

  First Peoples' Cultural Council logo