Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/899551
Heritage Matters 11 public they always come to us and say, 'Oh, I remember. I don't know the language, but I remember my grandparents speaking that or my parents.' We have a lot of work to do in order to be able to pass it down." Continuing with some of the challenges facing the Michif language in Ontario today, Picotte explained that, "the Michif in Ontario is a little different than the Michif spoken in Manitoba (or) Saskatchewan. People want to learn Michif and they don't realize that the Michif in Ontario is not the same as the one in Manitoba or Saskatchewan. I'm afraid of losing our native language for the sake of the Saskatchewan language. The Michif language as spoken in Ontario is wise, very beautiful, and should be (and is) respected as an Indigenous language." Picotte and the Métis Nation of Ontario are studying the Michif language in Ontario and working to record and analyze the many dialects present in Ontario. With a working group of volunteers and a linguist, they are creating little books and recording audio files that can be accessed online. Picotte observed that "there is a thirst to learn it. Our youth want to learn it. Our adults want to learn it. That's the opportunity we are trying not to miss. That thirst to learn our language is unbelievable. The fact that we are speaking it more and more in public is also going to be very important. The opportunity to use it in public and not to be judged, at least publicly, when we do use it, is awesome." She goes on to explain that, "the fear of identifying as Métis is still there. We still have to be careful. We still have to make sure that our people can publically express their language and culture in a safe environment. But for the most part I think the pride is there a little bit more. It's easier to say, 'Hey, I'm Métis.'" France Picotte is the Acting President of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Photo: Métis Nation of Ontario Photo: Métis Nation of Ontario