INLP event
New faculty member Jasḵwaan Bedard honoured at Old Masset in Haida Gwaii
By Nicole North
On October 19th, Laurel Weldon, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at SFU and Panayiotis Pappas, Chair of the Department of Linguistics, travelled to Old Masset in Haida Gwaii to attend a dinner event in honour of Jas岣祑aan Bedard. Bedard was hired this past summer in a tenure track position with the department's Indigenous Languages Program (INLP). In collaboration with leadership from local communities, the INLP offers language courses and post-secondary education.
A member of the G虪aw Tlag茅e Old Massett community and a longtime instructor of the X瘫aad Ki虂l language, Bedard is currently completing her PhD thesis 鈥�X瘫aad K铆hlga Tl鈥檃 Guusuugiigang: A Haida Research Framework Applied to X瘫aad Kil Immersion鈥� (the first part means 鈥淭he Haida language will be spoken for all time鈥�). Bedard will continue living and working in the community, building Haida language revitalization efforts. Jas岣祑aan鈥檚 hiring is significant for INLP鈥檚 mission of expansion to grow the teaching team and to have faculty situated on-site within Indigenous communities.
Following Haida protocol, the Raven Clan, to which INLP professor 骋耻濒办瘫颈颈丑濒驳补诲 Marianne Ignace belongs through adoption into the Yahgu 鈥楲a虂anaas Raven Clan, hosted the dinner in honour of Bedard, who is from the Haida Tsiits Git'anee Eagle Clan.
Bedard enjoyed the celebratory occasion immensely: 鈥淭he dinner was held jointly by (the Haida Language Office) and SFU representatives INLP Director Dr. 骋耻濒岣礽丑濒驳补诲 Marianne Ignace, FASS Dean Dr. Laurel Weldon, and Linguistics Chair Dr. Panayiotis (Panos) Pappas. The event took place at the Tluu X瘫aadaa Naay, Canoe People鈥檚 House in G瘫aw Tlag茅e, Old Massett.鈥�
鈥淭here were about forty people in attendance, including members of the X瘫aad K铆l N茅e office staff and Advisory Council, community members, and my children, family, students, and friends,鈥� says Bedard. 鈥� Brodie Swanson created delicious sushi-fusion dishes highlighting authentic Haida Gwaii seafood. Frank Collison of my own Tsiits Git'anee Eagle Clan was present, as well as representatives from my paternal Yahgu 'laanaas Raven Clan family, which is also the clan of my late mentor, . Chief of the Stl'ang 'Laanaas Ravens also attended.鈥�
鈥淎fter a lovely dinner, speeches and presentations were made. It was an honour to be acknowledged for my new role as INLP faculty. was also celebrated for her recent successful INLP MA program completion,鈥� Bedard explains.
鈥淚t was an honour to be recognized by my community, clan, and family in such a way. The evening warmed my heart and was truly a sense of accomplishment as all of my hard work to be in this position was recognized by my community. I appreciate how Haida protocol was followed in such a beautiful manner, with the Yahgu 'Laanaas Ravens playing an organizing role and the speeches and gifts of acknowledgment given out to those who came and witnessed the evening,鈥� recounts Bedard.
鈥淪FU was represented so well, with the partnership between INLP and our strengthened by the event. I would like to especially thank X瘫aad K铆l N茅e and their dedicated staff for making the evening so wonderful.鈥�
Weldon and Pappas agree with Bedard that the strengthening of this partnership between the INLP and X瘫aad K铆l N茅e is of great value and importance. In addition to gaining a better understanding of the Haida revitalization program and its needs, Weldon and Pappas expressed SFU鈥檚 sincere interest in supporting the INLP program in Masset and in many other areas across BC and the Yukon.
In cooperation with local communities and language authorities, INLP offers courses in close to twenty Indigenous languages. Credentials offered by the INLP include a certificate, a diploma, and a minor for undergraduate students, as well as a graduate certificate and a Master鈥檚 of Indigenous Literatures and Languages.
Photography by .
