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Matawa Waka Tere:
Revitalizing Matawa First Nation Languages
In 2012, Chief Johnny Yellowhead of Nibinamik First Nation visited New Zealand and upon his return shared information about a Maori Language Revitilization project using accelerated learning techniques. The highly successful project helped to bring about legislation that recognizes the Maori language as the second official language in Aotearoa (New Zealand).
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Revitalizing Matawa First Nation Languages
A formal request for assistance was made to Dr. Rongo H. Wetere to assist Matawa Chiefs and their communities in revitalizing their languages using the same philosophical approach. Many of the fluent language speakers within the communities will be lost within the next 5-10 years, and with them their traditional languages if action is not taken now to revitalize them. Matawa First Nations is committed to revitalizing our first languages: Ojibway, Oji-Cree and Cree. Matawa Education has been working with Dr. Wetere and his team of language specialists on a special program called Matawa Waka Tere meaning ‘the meeting of the rivers on a fast-moving canoe’. Matawa Waka Tere incorporates accelerated learning techniques aimed at helping second language learners learn a language fast. A combination of learning tools and techniques that were developed and used around the world are aimed to equip Matawa’s Indigenous Language Specialists, Tutors and Tutor Assistants to be able to understand the learners needs and to cater for them. The Maori experience also reports that this approach to Language Revitalization attracted non-Maori from all sectors of life. This unexpected outcome, demonstrated a pronounced reduction in racism by showing an increase in collaboration between Maori and local service providers
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