Ontario Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) 2008 - 2009 - Call for Proposals
Sweetgrass First Nations Language Council Inc.
in partnership with Department of Canadian Heritage
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Backgrounder
ONTARIO ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES INITIATIVE (ALI) 2008 - 2009
Background
This ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES INITIATIVE program has been in place since 1998.
The Sweetgrass First Nations Language Council Inc. has been designated to deliver the ALI program as the Ontario Regional Delivery for the same time period.
In the past, the main objective of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) funding is/was to increase the number of speakers of Aboriginal languages in Canada. This was done through a variety of projects and activities including: Methods, Motivation and the development of Materials.
Over the next two years, the Ontario ALI program will be shifting gears and setting new priorities to coincide with a national exercise in what is called ‘program renewal’ that is focused on evaluating the ALI program and its objectives over the last 10 years.
As part of the exercise, recommendations from all the regions and many communities who hosted projects will be welcomed and received. It is hoped these recommendations will inform the policy makers on how to improve the program and to set or inform new priorities, objectives, standards and targets for the next ALI program.
These final results then will help to establish funding levels for Aboriginal Language Initiative funding and investments for the next 5 –10 years.
To begin this process the Ontario Regional Delivery Agent for the ALI is again conducting a province wide ‘Call for Proposals’ and will have four priority areas.
The Four Priorities for Ontario for ALI 2008-2009.
Priority One - Documenting and Banking of Languages
Projects that inventory and document languages from Speakers and Elders will again be the priority for projects in Ontario. This inventory or banking collect new ‘living language’ using all formats, technologies and media. Projects that promise to share their research make the information available to other First Nations communities and individuals will receive special consideration.
Priority Two - Language Materials Inventory
In the final two years between 2008-2010, it is recognized those projects that promote and preserve languages could benefit from better coordination, inventory and promotion in Ontario.
Time and time again we are being asked: What happened to the materials produced with the ALI funding? How are they being promoted? How are they being shared? Are the materials being made available? Are they for loan or for purchase or sale? How can I access the materials? How can I contact the persons, producers or publishers of the materials?
After 10 years of the ALI these are valid questions being raised. These inventories are often called ‘clearinghouses’ or ‘databases’ of materials that were produced.
The second priority then will be for projects that conduct research and produce inventories of language materials that exist and are available to your community and your language. This documentation for First Nations language materials can be any from any media, technologies and formats and are known to exist and/or are available for the general public for free or for purchase.
If you are interested in this kind of project please contact our office to obtain
a standard template for the research. If you are creating your own template as part of the project it should be included with the proposal.
Priority Three - First Nations Community Language Planning
The third priority will be for community language planning projects that encourage First Nations Communities to think about the community health of their First Nation’s language. This priority will allow opportunities for serious dialogue and conversation and begin planning to recover, rehabilitate and reinforce the First Nation’s language in the community.
The language planning projects for this priority can bring together community members to first inventory the health of the languages (data collection of who is speaking, ages, who is writing etc., etc.) in each First Nation Community.
Then it is hoped this priority will allow a First Nation Community to set goals, priorities, targets and recommendations for the community to either recover, rehabilitate or reinforce their languages. It is finally hoped communities who use this priority will eventually develop and take ownership or ratify their short, medium and long range community language plans.
These projects may include and allow opportunities for First Nation communities to bring together their community members, language champions, broadcasters, writers, speakers, educators, schools, heritage organizations, social service agencies, and other language stakeholders, to map out a plan that identifies needs and required resources for continued language recovery, rehabilitation and revitalization inorder to meet their community language plans, goals and targets.
Priority Four - Community Language Instruction
This priority is for First Nations communities involved with language instruction, targeting community members outside the normal in-school setting or institutions of higher learning.
You are again being asked to prepare funding proposals to a maximum of $5,000.00
Deadline for Submissions for this Call for Proposals
April 24, 2008
ONTARIO’S ALI PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS
Ontario community-based projects are invited through an open ‘Call for Proposals’ from both on and off reserve.
All proposals are reviewed and assessed on merit, established priorities, and the capacity of the ‘host’ organizations to complete the project. This assessment is conducted by a ‘Jury of Peers’ who are Language Experts, Champions or Professionals.
Submitting a proposal does not automatically guarantee funding, or funding at the full level requested. Funding is always contingent on the availability of funds from Parliament and upon the discretion of the Minister of Canadian Heritage weighed against the number of proposals received.
You will be notified if your proposal is selected and is recommended for funding.
All community project ‘hosts’ and their officers/administrators of your community’s host organization are required to a sign a Memoranda of Agreement (MOU) with the Sweetgrass First Nations Language Council Inc. as the Ontario Delivery Agent, for the Department of Canadian Heritage.
ALI language funding is not a grant, but is a repayable contribution and subject to audits and repayment. Please assist the Sweetgrass First Nations Language Council Inc. by providing all documents, monitoring memos and final reports as required in a timely manner to meet the established deadlines.