High school language competition hopes to preserve First Nation dialect
LADYMSITH — The words and teachings of a nearly forgotten coastal B.C. Indigenous language were sustained by more than 100 students eager to demonstrate what they’ve learned.
Ladysmith Secondary School’s Language and Land-based learning class was one of 14 teams demonstrating what they’ve learned in the fourth Hul’q’umi’num language competition at their school on Thursday, June 1.
Led by teachers Mandy Jones and Bill Taylor, the class competed and for the first time also put on a play entirely in the First Nation language.
Taylor told NanaimoNewsNOW even though the class triumphed in the competition by winning first place, it’s more the message rather than the trophy which matters.