THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Fort Smith's Kyle Napier started a new job last month, and it's a challenging one.

Kyle Napier is manager of the Cree Language Program with the Northwest Territory Metis Nation, a position which includes creating documentaries to promote and preserve the language. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

It is to help preserve and promote the Cree language in the NWT.

Napier is now manager of the Cree Language Program with the Northwest Territory Metis Nation.

One goal of the program is to increase the number - currently about 190 - of Bush Cree speakers in the NWT, mainly in Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Resolution and Yellowknife.

"That's the numbers goal, but that's not the foundational reason behind it," said Napier, explaining it has more to do with connecting with culture. "The reason we are trying to increase the number of Cree speakers is to re-establish people with their traditional and cultural identities. That's the goal."

The 25-year-old - who is Metis of Cree heritage - doesn't speak Cree himself, but he is learning and is currently at the very basic level.

"That kind of gives rise to the discussion of how important it is that we bolster the number of Cree speakers," he said. "If the person taking the position as Cree language manager doesn't even speak Cree, I mean that really kind of shows how few Cree speakers there are in the NWT."

Napier said he is gradually learning the language from books and other materials, and from speaking with translators.

The fact that he - as manager of the Cree Language Program - is a novice studying the language will give him insight into the learning process he will be offering other people.

"I'm starting to recognize different avenues for improvement," he said.

Aside from his own efforts to learn the language, Napier has also begun a couple of new initiatives to promote Bush Cree.

One is creating a compilation album of songs in the language, featuring both national and NWT performers singing in Plains Cree or Bush Cree.

The performers are expected to include the Iskwew Singers, A Tribe Called Red, hip hop artist K.A.S.P., Veronica Johnny and Mary Cardinal.

"Every performer that I've reached out to has been so warm and so receptive to the idea. That's great," said Napier. "They all want to get involved."

The compilation album will have about 12 tracks, half from well-known artists and half from local performers. Some songs will have been previously recorded, while others will be recorded in Napier's office.

"The purpose of this album is to kind of demonstrate how cool this language can be," he said.

The compilation album - like all material produced by the Cree Language Program - will be distributed for free and made available on the Internet for download. The target for release is March of next year.

The program is also filming a documentary on the significance of the Bush Cree language, featuring about 12 different speakers in the NWT. That is scheduled to be finished next year.

Another documentary will begin on traditional storytelling by elders speaking Cree.

Napier said he is also working with Richard Van Camp, a well-known writer originally from Fort Smith, to translate some of his graphic novels into Cree.

"We've got a lot on the go," said Napier. "All of them have to do with the revitalization of the Cree language."

The manager of the Cree Language Program is facing some daunting statistics.

That includes the fact that 68.4 per cent of Cree speakers in the NWT are over 40 years of age, while just 10 per cent are 14 years of age or younger.

"The reason that we're seeing such a decline in people under 40 is, if you look to the numbers, that's towards the tail end of residential schools," said Napier.

Plus, he said, like all aboriginal languages, Bush Cree competes with English in schools, government and day-to-day conversation.

Napier noted his program has helped introduce Bush Cree to young people by partnering with the Aboriginal Head Start Program for a Cree language nest in Fort Smith and by providing language materials to students in grades 1 to 4.

"It's pretty tough looking to the numbers. I think what's most significant for us is providing resources and venues for people to feel comfortable speaking Cree," he said, adding that Cree needs to be spoken at home.

In addition to managing the Cree Language Program, Napier is the communication and research manager for the Northwest Territory Metis Nation.

Born in Yellowknife, Napier lived in Fort Smith and the south as he was growing up. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Calgary's Mount Royal University, and has previously worked as an audiovisual technician.

Now, he is happy with his new positions with the Northwest Territory Metis Nation.

"This is my dream job what I'm doing right now. Absolutely," he said.

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