Library and Archives Canada Funds Projects to Help Preserve Indigenous Culture and Language Recordings

From LAC:

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is providing $2.3 million to support 31 projects by First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation organizations.

As part of the Government of Canada’s reconciliation efforts, LAC is supporting Indigenous communities as they seek to preserve and make accessible their existing audio and video heritage for future generations.

Through the Listen, Hear Our Voices initiative, LAC is providing contribution funding to help Indigenous organizations to digitize their existing culture and language recordings, and build the skills, knowledge and resources they need to carry out this work in their communities. After a call for applications, which closed in summer 2019, an Indigenous review committee, external to LAC, and consisting of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation representatives from across Canada, reviewed applications and made the following recommendations for funding.

Organizations receiving funding through the Listen, Hear Our Voices initiative
(2019–2020):

1.     Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute

2.     Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA)

3.     Atikamekw Sipi-Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw

4.     Avataq Cultural Institute

5.     Carrier Sekani Tribal Council

6.     Chemawawin Cree Nation

7.     Council of Yukon First Nations, Yukon Native Language Centre

8.     First Nations University of Canada

9.     Gwich’in Tribal Council, Department of Cultural Heritage

10.  Indigenous Culture and Media Innovations

11.  Innu Nation

12.  Inuit Broadcasting Corporation

13.  James Bay Cree Communications Society

14.  Kitselas Land and Resources Department

15.  Legacy of Hope Foundation

16.  Lil̓wat7úl Culture Centre

17.  Louis Riel Institute

18.  Mamu Tshishkutamashutau – Innu Education

19.  Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)

20.  Mohawk Language Custodian Association

21.  Nak’azdli Whut’en, Natural Resources

22.  Nunavut Independent Television Network (NITV)

23.  Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq / Kitikmeot Heritage Society

24.  Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle

25.  Saik’uz First Nation

26.  Southern Dakelh Nation Alliance

27.  Them Days Incorporated

28.  Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc

29.  Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in

30.  Tsilhqot’in National Government

31.  Walpole Island Heritage Centre

For a complete list including funding recipients, project titles and funding amounts, visit the Listen, Hear Our Voices (Contribution funding recipients 2019–2020) web page.

Quick Facts

• The Listen, Hear Our Voices initiative also offers free digitization services to Indigenous organizations, individuals, collectors and creators to digitize their existing culture and language recordings.
• The Listen, Hear Our Voices initiative is part of the Indigenous Documentary Heritage Initiatives, which were developed in 2017 to increase access to Indigenous-related content in LAC’s collection and to support Indigenous communities in preserving First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation cultures and languages.
• To further this work and recognize the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation, LAC has created the Indigenous Heritage Action Plan. The action plan consists of 28 concrete actions that LAC will undertake over the next five years.
•  LAC is currently accepting proposals for the 2020–2021 funding cycle of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program. The deadline to submit applications is January 7, 2020.

Read the Complete Announcement

Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, Associations and Organizations, Digital Preservation, Funding, Libraries, News