CULTURE AND LANGUAGE

Overview

Constance Lake First Nation is at the beginning of creating a language revitalization journey. We know this work will be challenging and in need of supports coming from all community members. As of right now, our elders and advanced speakers are working collectively to bring forth plans and workshops for the community. Constance Lake First Nation will be assisting all initiatives that will generate speakers of this community in three most spoken languages; Oji Cree, Cree and Ojibway.

Oji Cree in a 2016 census, there are 13,630 mother tongue speakers. They are mainly located in Northern Ontario and in Island Lake, Manitoba. Oji-Cree is a dialect of Anishinaabe with influences from the Cree language. The language and culture are considered a distinct language and nation. Constance Lake First Nation identifies with this language being its primary language followed secondly by Cree and thirdly Ojibway.