Research summary
In Canada and around the world, Indigenous languages preserve the rich heritage and identity they embody. They also contain valuable traditional knowledge and strengthen the bonds between generations of Indigenous peoples. But many are at risk of slipping away as the number of fluent speakers declines.
As Canada Research Chair in Change, Adaptation and Revitalization of Indigenous Languages, Dr. Nicholas Welch is expanding the Labrador Languages Preservation Database, documenting lesser-known Indigenous languages, and sharing his findings and data with the communities that speak these languages. Working with a research team of linguists, students and Indigenous community members and leaders, he is building capacity in documentary linguistics, language teaching, and Indigenous-academic collaborative research itself. Ultimately, this work will support both linguistic documentation and the revitalization of Indigenous languages.