Breathing Life into Words

Shared language is a key part of identity and self-belonging. For many Indigenous cultures, these ancient traditional spoken words are at risk of being lost with older generations.

With many middle-aged generations culturally disconnected due to the residential school system, eyes instead are turning to the youngest in communities to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma and revitalize culture and connectedness to one another and the land. 

The Tsuut’ina Nation is introducing the Coming Home program. Created by community Elders, this language program will target K-12 students and teach them how to read, write, and perform traditional storytelling in Tsuut’ina. Coming Home will educate participants on the tale behind Tsuut’ina and its people and incite cultural passion in Indigenous youth. Engaging and educating youth is a pathway to revitalizing traditions and healing wounds inflicted by a legacy of trauma. 

For the first year, the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) will provide funding to the Coming Home project for resources and materials needed to engage youth and revitalize Tsuut’ina. This funding will be integral to bridging the gap between the youngest and eldest in communities, to not only save the language, but to breathe new life into every word that is learned by the bright young minds of tomorrow. 

The Coming Home project was created by Tsuut’ina Elder Bruce Starlight, one of the few remaining individuals fluent in the Tsuut’ina language, and Carmel Starlight. Having witnessed the loss of culture, language and identity over their lifetimes, they are dedicated to reversing these devastating impacts by ensuring that the sacred knowledge they have is passed down to the youngest in their communities. 

Diocese of Calgary