Persistence in Indigenous language work during the COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Sociolinguistics
• Indigenous Studies
• Education

Background:

• Indigenous language revitalization and reclamation efforts continued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The pandemic necessitated shifts in how language work was conducted.
• Understanding these shifts and their impacts is crucial for ongoing Indigenous language support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore shifts in Indigenous language work during the early COVID-19 pandemic.
• To investigate the impacts of these shifts on Indigenous language revitalization and reclamation.
• To identify key themes related to adapting language efforts during a global crisis.

Main Methods:

• A scan of social media platforms was conducted.
• Surveys and interviews were administered.
• Research was primarily focused on Canada during the summer and fall of 2020.

Main Results:

• Language work shifted to ensure community health and safety, often moving online.
• Capacity building was essential for adapting to new modalities.
• Challenges were faced in shifting online, but new resources were created and shared.
• Online promotion of Indigenous languages and reimagining of language education occurred.

Conclusions:

• Indigenous communities demonstrated remarkable persistence in language revitalization during the pandemic.
• Adaptations included shifting work online, building capacity, and creating new resources.
• The pandemic prompted a re-envisioning of language education and pedagogy.