Dr. Jeannette Armstrong is a key architect of the language fluency framework. She was one of several speakers at Wednesday's event celebrating the Bachelor of Secwépemc Language Fluency.
UBC Okanagan celebrated the first cohort of Bachelor of Secwépemc Language Fluency students at a ceremony held at Chief Atahm School in Chase, BC.
This milestone marks the completion of UBC Okanagan's Interior Salish language degrees and supports its 2019 commitment to Indigenous language revitalization and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
The Bachelor of Secwépemc Language Fluency joins existing language programs in Nsyilxcn, NłeɁkepmx, and St'át'imc languages, making UBC Okanagan the first Canadian university to offer degrees in all four Interior Salish languages.
The Honourable Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, joined community members, educators and students in Chase, BC, for a celebration. It was hosted by the R Stselxméms r Secwépemc Institute and Chief Atahm School-an institution that has supported Secwépemc language revitalization for more than three decades.
Students begin the program with two years of foundational studies at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) and complete their final two years at UBC Okanagan's Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The degree focuses on immersion learning, community involvement and preserving Secwépemc knowledge.
"Our government is committed to supporting First Nations leadership in language revitalization, and I raise my hands to all those who are working to support the revitalization of Secwepemctsín. Kukwstsétsemc to the Elders, teachers and learners," says Minister Herbert.
Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Professor of Indigenous Studies at UBC Okanagan and a key architect of the language fluency framework, reflected on the path to this moment.
"The Secwépemc language carries profound knowledge about relationships to the land, to community and to ways of being for the Secwépemc people," says Dr. Armstrong. "This program doesn't just teach language. It restores connections to people, to culture, to knowledge and bridges generations."
Dr. John Chenoweth is President of the NVIT and a UBC Okanagan alumnus. He obtained his doctorate in 2018 under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Armstrong. For him, the success of the Interior Salish language programs reflects both Dr. Armstrong's life's work and his own doctoral research.
"I feel immense pride on behalf of NVIT for the students we support and the communities we serve," he says. "This represents not just years of advocacy but, for some, a lifetime of work and vision coming to fruition. It is immensely meaningful and a concrete step to helping revitalize the languages that Indigenous communities across the BC interior hold dear."
The program was created through the Indigenous Language Proficiency and Fluency Degree Framework Partnership, a collaboration between the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association and the Language Fluency Degree Consortium.
Tracey Bonneau, Chair of the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association, praised the teamwork that made the achievement possible.
"The launch of this final Interior Salish language fluency degree is profound and exciting," she says. "It shows what's possible when Indigenous institutes, communities and post-secondary institutions work together to honour Indigenous knowledge and meet the rigorous academic standards students deserve."
First Nations Education Steering Committee President Tyrone McNeil says the four Interior Salish language fluency programs are now a model for other institutions in Canada and beyond, after years of planning and partnership.
"The Bachelor of Secwépemc Language Fluency represents the culmination of countless hours of passion and hard work," he adds. "With all four Interior Salish language degrees now offered through NVIT and UBC Okanagan, thanks to the many partners that make these programs possible, we've become a centre for Indigenous language education and a model for institutions across Canada responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to support Indigenous language revitalization."
The ceremony featured welcome songs, speeches in Secwepemctsín and acknowledgements of the many partners who made the program possible. It also highlighted how language revitalization connects generations, with speakers including students and Elders who have championed Secwépemc language preservation for decades.
Kúkpi7 Lynn Duckchief, Chief of the Adams Lake Indian Band, welcomed participants and guests.
"Key to the success of language fluency programs is fully connecting students into the communities that are home to the languages they learn," she says. "We rely on the time and profound generosity of Elders, community members and language speakers to help students go beyond the classroom and experience Secwepemctsín as a beautiful, rich and living language that's essential to who we are."
Students in the program take intensive immersion and culturally informed courses courses, learn language for specific areas of life and explore practical strategies for revitalizing language. After graduating, they will join a growing cohort of Indigenous language champions who are ready to teach, create curriculum and lead language revitalization efforts in their communities.
