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STOLCEL John Elliott
Saanich
Language Activist, author, artist and technology visionary
STOLCEL John Elliott
is a member of the Saanich Nation on Vancouver Island, Chairman of the
Saanich Native Heritage Society and language and culture teacher at the
LAU,WELNEW Tribal School.
STOLCEL has delivered technology-based conference presentations in Vancouver,
Toronto, Flagstaff Arizona and Bozeman Montana. In December 2002, he received
the University of Victoria Community Leadership Award, honouring his pioneering
work in the application of technology to Aboriginal language revitalization.
In 1999 he began experimenting with digital video and computers
as teaching tools for Aboriginal language education. STOLCEL’s
collaboration with a teaching colleague at LAU,WELNEW Tribal
School resulted in the development of a multimedia authoring
suite specifically designed for Indigenous language instruction.
This work ultimately led to the creation of the FirstVoices Web-based
Aboriginal Language resource.
FirstVoices is a unique suite of web-based tools and services designed to support
Aboriginal people engaged in language archiving, language teaching and culture.
(The website can be seen at: www.firstvoices.com)
STOLCEL is a member of the Straits Salish People, also known
as the "salt
water people" because they lived from the bounty of the
ocean and the land. His understanding of how their ancient language
directly connects the people to the natural laws of the land
is fascinating and yet remarkably insightful. They were in touch
with nature and used the universe as their clock, which the people
and the animals follow today.
The smooth flow and integration of their activities was possible
because they lived a traditional life linked to nature. The Salish
People recognized that nature was complex and not easily reduced
to a simple clock or calendar. Their economic and cultural activities
were related to the seasons and were sacred to them. Art, language,
spirituality and all activities were one, and they honoured their
elders for recording and preserving this way of life, which they
continue to respect by honouring the wisdom of their past. The
language of the WS'NEĆ People is SENĆOŦEN, which is taught
at L̵ÁU,WELṈEW Tribal School.
STOLCEL credits his father, Dave Elliott, who first wrote down the language by
withdrawing from his activities for years to record the sacred sounds, which
made its current preservation possible. He encouraged STOLCEL to embrace technology
as the medium through which the language could be preserved, learned and taught
to future generations.
STOLCEL’s mission today is to tell the history of the land
in the original native language and to restore those sacred sites
and holy spots that date back over 10,000 years.
STOLCEL is a deep and silent speaker whose reflective pauses emphasize his powerful
message for those who are fortunate to hear the wisdom of the ancient peoples.
Topic title
Our language connects us to the land |
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