BC's unique linguistic heritage

British Columbia has an extraordinarily rich linguistic heritage, being the ancestral home of more than half of the Aboriginal languages of Canada. Unique to this territory, these languages are globally renowned for their diversity and complexity. The tragic reality is that all of the 32 surviving First Nations languages of BC are critically endangered, many facing the loss of their last generation of fluent speakers within the next decade. The loss of any one of these languages, which have flourished for millennia being passed from generation to generation as rich and vibrant oral traditions, constitutes an irreplaceable loss of a living expression of intellect, of specific cultural understanding, of a vital link to the past, and potential keys to our collective well-being, health, and sustainability.

The FNLG program was initiated in 1997 as part of UBC's commitment to community-based collaboration with First Nations peoples, in recognition of the profound importance of these languages and of the cultural traditions they represent. Come learn a First Nations language!

Click on the map for more information on BC's languages.

The Lyle Wilson Haisla Project

Our Program

The First Nations Language Program (FNLG), at the University of British Columbia, offers courses in various First Nations languages, develops educational materials, and conducts research on BC's endangered languages, in collaboration with First Nations communities and cultural institutions. For more details, click on the fish-links to the left.

Contact

Awards

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