October 11, 2000 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia will host BC's largest event to recognize Aboriginal Languages Day on Saturday, October 14th. The event will mark the first time that northern BC's aboriginal language instructors are meeting in the same place and at the same time to discuss strategies for preserving aboriginal languages and culture.

"Across Canada, there are approximately 60 aboriginal language groupings, with more than 25 of them in BC alone. There are relatively few people speaking the different indigenous languages in the province and we must implement strategies for ensuring their survival," says Perry Shawana, Chair of the First Nations Studies Program at UNBC. "Education is a big part of it. UNBC offers courses on 14 different aboriginal languages, representing the first time many of them have been taught at university."

The Aboriginal Language Day festivities are all open to the public:

11am Opening ceremonies with the Lake Babine Nation Hereditary Dancers and keynote addresses by Tl'azt'en Nation Grand Chief Edward John and Deanna Nyce, CEO of Wilp Wilxo-oskwhl Nisga'a (the Nisga'a House of Higher Education)

12:30pm Traditional lunch

1:30 & 3pm Ethnobotany presentations, storytelling, dancing and singing, craft tables, author readings, and language instructor information tables

4pm Plenary session with language instructors in Room 7-212

All of the activities will occur around the Agora
Detailed agendas will be available at the event