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You are here:  Home   |   Our People   |   Our Language

Our Language

Weyt-kp xwexweytep (hello everyone). The Simpcw people speak the western dialect of Secwepemctsin (the language of the Secwepemc or Shuswap people) which has been passed down from generation to generation. Secwepemctsin is in the Interior Salish language family. It is through the language that the Simpcw are tied so closely to the land and each other. Communities were united by their common language and their shared values based on resource gathering and the maintenance of communal ties. The borrowed English alphabet was used to develop the Secwepemctsin alphabet, which consists of 43 letters. Note that the pronunciation of those letters is phonetically different than the English verbalisation.

The Secwepemc language is one of Canada’s endangered First Nation’s languages and is in jeopardy of being lost due to the loss of Elders and the residential schooling systems of the mid-1900s; however, the Simpcw people have been working to revive the language through various methods and programs. Neqweyqwelsten School incorporates language and culture into their everyday learning; A Secwepemctsin class is taught five days a week, where the students learn various topics such as: family, weather/calendar, animals, stories, prayers, and traditional hand drum songs. The teachers and staff also work hard to utilize basic commands in the classroom.

Additionally, a Cultural and Language Coordinator was hired in June 2011, who is responsible for planning and delivering cultural and language activities for the Simpcw community. A resource library is in the making so that there are readily available teaching materials for on and off reserve Simpcw people. Some examples of the efforts to maintain this traditional knowledge are: stories told by our Elders, handouts and booklets for different categories (family, clothing, colours, etc.), Simpcw territory maps and place names, CDs of Secwepemc children’s songs, stick game/hand drum songs, as well as audio recordings of words and phrases.

 

For further information, please feel free to contact:

Charli Fortier
Cultural and Language Coordinator
Phone: 250.672.9995 ext 265
Charli.Fortier@simpcw.com

 

Other Secwepemctsin Resources

1. First Voices http://www.firstvoices.com/en/Secwepemc

2. First Voices Kids http://www.firstvoiceskids.com/en/enter-kids

FirstVoices Meta Data Page02.jpg
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ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

Office Location:
7555 Dunn Lake Road, B.C
Office Hours:
8:00am-4:00pm Monday to Friday
 

REACH US

Phone: 250.672.9995
Toll-Free: 1.800.678.1129
Fax:      250.672.5858
Email: reception@simpcw.com

RESOURCES

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  • Education Coordinator
  • Health & Wellness
  • Public Works
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  • Natural Resources
  • Fire Department
  • Language & Culture Team
  • Simpcw Fisheries
  • Social Development
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  • Home
  • Documents
  • Internal Links
  • Contact Us
  • News Feed
    • Dunn Lake Project Updates
    • Events
    • Simpcw Community Projects
  • Member Login
  • Tenders and RFP's
  • Register
  • Employment & Training
    • SRG employment
      • SRG IS HIRING
  • Our People
    • Our History
    • Our Future
    • Our Language
    • Our Land
  • Community
    • Public Notices
      • CANADA HOUSING BENIFIT--ONE TIME $500
      • COVID 19 UPDATE
      • DR. MONA JULES SECWEPMCSTIIN GRANT APPLICATION
      • HERITAGE TRUST APPLICATION UPDATE- email -adminassist@simpcw.com
      • HONORING OUR YOUNG WOMEN POW WOW
      • MUSIC MEALS AND MOVIE MARCH 31 5-9PM
      • PERSCRIBED BURN SCHEDULE
      • POW WOW COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
      • PRINCE GEORGE JURISDICTION ENGAGEMENT
      • SETTLEMENT OF FIRST NATIONS DRINKING WATER ADVISORY CLASS ACTION
      • SIMPCW NEWS RELEASE
      • SPRING CLEANING
      • SPRING CLEANING FIRE SAFETY TIPS
      • VANCOUVER JURISDICTION ENGAGEMENT
      • WATER SHED
    • Newsletter
    • Calendar of Events
    • News & Press
    • Dunn Lake Road Relocation
    • McBride to Barriere Mtn Bike Recreation & Tourism Initiative
    • Photos
  • Administration
    • Annual Reports
    • Simpcw Chief
    • Band Administrator
    • Simpcw Band Council
    • Simpcw Membership
    • Documents
      • Roles and Responsibility Manual
  • Services
    • Health, Cultural & Crisis Support
    • Education Coordinator
      • EDUCATION DEPARTMENT UPDATES
    • Health & Wellness
    • Public Works
    • Lands
    • Natural Resources
    • Fire Department
      • BURN INFORMATION TEACHERS AND KIDS
      • How to prepare your home for wildfire
      • SAFETY ITEM LIST
      • FIRST RESPONDERS UPDATE
    • Language & Culture Team
    • Simpcw Fisheries
    • Social Development
      • ENGAGEMENTS
      • ENGAGEMENTS SAVE THE DATE
      • KAMLOOPS JURISDICTION ENGAGEMENT JANUARY
    • Archives & Genealogy
    • Administration Support
  • Neqweyqwelsten School
    • Background
    • Goals
    • Secwépemcstin
      • Secwépemc Beliefs for Good Living
      • Introductions & Basic Commands
      • Days of the Week
      • Months
      • Seasons
      • Alphabet
      • Numbers
    • General Information
      • School Conduct
      • School Procedures
      • School Program
      • Liaison with Public School
    • Head Start Program
    • Calendar of Events
    • School Notes & Newsletters
    • Contact Us
    • Our Blog
  • Economic Development
    • Employment & Contractors
    • Simpcw Resources Group Ltd.
    • Estsék' Environmental Services LLP
    • T’micw-kt Cultural Services LLP

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ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

Office Location:
7555 Dunn Lake Road, B.C
Office Hours:
8:00am-4:00pm Monday to Friday
 

REACH US

Phone: 250.672.9995
Toll-Free: 1.800.678.1129
Fax:      250.672.5858
Email: reception@simpcw.com