Join us as we celebrate National Indigenous Languages Day with an informative event focused on language revitalization of the Haudenosaunee languages. Featuring presentations by Dr. Talena Atfield, Dr. Sara General, and Dakota Rohrer, this hybrid event will explore the ongoing efforts by University of Waterloo faculty and community members who have dedicated their lives to preserving these languages.
National Indigenous Languages Day is an opportunity to honor the strength and resilience of Indigenous languages and cultures, recognizing their enduring importance.
Let’s come together to celebrate the community-driven initiatives that ensure the sustainability of Haudenosaunee languages for generations to come.
Date: March 31, 2025
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: East Campus 5 (EC5) 1111
305 Phillip St EC5, Waterloo, ON N2L 5Z5
Talena Atfield: Language Regeneration through archives: Gahsrǫ:nih tahnon Tentewatenikonhra'khánion.
Talena Atfield is an Assistant Professor in History at the University of Waterloo. She is of Kanien'kehá:ka of the Grand River and mixed settler backgrounds and grew up urban. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Tentewatenikonhra'khánion (We Will Put Our Minds Together). Through her Canada Research Chair, Dr. Atfield aims to increase access to Hodinosho:ni intellectual and cultural property held in museums and archives by interrogating the ideology of “the expert” and recentering community-led knowledge regeneration. Dr. Atfield critically examines the information shared with past researchers and works with community members, scholars, and knowledge keepers to find ways to reintegrate and regenerate this information into community practice.
Dakota Rohrer: Connecting Past and Future Generations Through Use of the Language in the Natural World.
Shé:kon sewakwé:kon, wa’tkwanonhwerá:ton tsi sewataterihonién:nis nahó:ten wakhyá:ton í:i akerihwà:ke.
Entkatahswen’ skáhne ónhka ní:i ethó:ne akwahró:ri’ nahó:ten niwakatyé:ron. Ratsiranonnha niyónkyat’s Kanien’keha:ka niwakonhwentsyó:ten táhnon a’nó:wara niwaki’taró:ten. Shikekhsá:’a kwah ákhta ne Grand RIver tkiterón:tahkwe. Nek tsi tsyá:tak níyohserá:ke tsi náhe, wa’tkená:htahkwe tsi niyó:re British Columbiahne. onkyó:ten’ ne karhá:kon nikatsiró:ten. Tonsakená:tahkwe á:re tókhara niyohserá:ke tsi náhe, tsi niyó:re Onkwehonwé:ne ne káti takatáhsawen’ akaté:weyenhste’ kanien’ké:ha 2022 eh shiyohserá:te táhnon shé:kon kateweyénhstha nón:wa.
Wakonnyányon háti nahó:ten akanonhtonnyón:ko’. kkwatakohá:tons wanitskwahrá:seres, ohstá:wa, kennentsyó:wi, onónhkwa, kahkwa’ón:we néne yawékon, nok é:so nahó:ten ó:ya. É:so kenòn:we’s akherihónnyon’ onhka’k ó:ya á:yenhre ayonté:weyenhste’ kanien’kéha nok háti nahó:ten ó:ya kkwénnyes.
My name is Ratsiranonnha, I am Kanien’kéha of the Grand River Territory, and I am turtle clan. When I was a child, I grew up near the Grand River, but 7 years ago I moved to British Columbia. I worked there as a wildland fire fighter. I moved again a few years ago to the reserve so that I could start to study kanien’kéha. I’m still studying now in my 3rd year.
I’m a crafter and enjoy handwork, so I make almost anything that I think of. Benches, rattles, drums, medicine, good traditional food, and many other things. I really like to teach whoever might want to study language, crafting, and whatever else I am able. I will discuss my journey as a Kanyen’keha language learner in the Onkwawén:na kentyókwa immersion program on Six Nations and how I have used language to connect to my ancestors through hunting, planting and harvesting, foraging, and cooking. I will then discuss my plans for moving forward in carrying the language on for future generations.
Sara General: Ogwehoweh Language Revitalization at Six Nations of the Grand River
Sara General is Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River, where she lives with her husband and three children. She is an assistant professor of Indigenous Studies at United College at the University of Waterloo. Sara is a writer, artist, researcher, and language learner. She is currently studying at Onkwawenna Kenytohkwa and continues to support the efforts of community organizations like the Six Nations Language Commission and Six Nations Polytechnic.
Register today
Location Information
305 Phillip St.
Waterloo, ON, CA N2L 5Z5
