The First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC), a provincial Crown Corporation based in British Columbia, Canada has been supporting B.C. First Nations in their language, arts, and cultural revitalization since 1990. In addition to successful programs such as Language Nests and Mentor-Apprentice, FPCC has also been playing an instrumental role in accompanying the more than 200 First Nations communities in B.C. speaking 34 different languages in their efforts to incorporate technology into their revitalization efforts.
One of their flagship technology-related initiatives is the First Voices project, a platform that “connects the knowledge carried in our languages to modern digital technology.” Dictionaries, words, stories, songs, keyboard apps, and other resources are uploaded by language teams from those language communities.
Recently, FPCC developed a free online resource guide called “Check Before You Tech,” providing important information for Indigenous communities on what to consider before purchasing or investing in digital technologies for their language revitalization work.
It can be hard to know how to select the right technology for your language work, or what questions you should ask before purchasing a tool. This guide is a practical checklist that will help communities make informed decisions before purchasing or developing language software.
Naturally, these are questions that other Indigenous communities may want to consider as they similarly seek to incorporate technology into their revitalization work. Rising Voices teamed up with FPCC to make this guide available in Spanish for sharing with Latin American Indigenous communities. Thanks to the contributions by Global Voices in Spanish translators Belén Correa Abendaño, Julieta F., and Romina Navarro, this translated guide “Analizar Antes de Digitalizar” is now available for download on the Activismo Lenguas website.