| SURVEY RESULTS |
Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation
Language Survey 2006 Results
In the summer of 2006, a community survey was undertaken to gain knowledge of the health of the indigenous language of the community.
The survey was developed to gain information in the following areas: General Information, Language Acquisition, Language Proficiency & Use, and Attitudes, Beliefs and Values towards the Ojibway Language.
This report highlights the information received from this survey. Copies of the detailed report are available from the Band Manager.
On behalf of Chief & Council, a big thanks goes out to all the members who participated in this survey. Your involvement in the growth & development of your community is appreciated.
Section 1 - Highlights
General Information
I. Survey Composition:
Breakdown by Gender & Age
| Year | Male | Female |
| 1980s | 27% | 63% |
| 1970s | 20% | 80% |
| 1960s | 21% | 69% |
| 1950s | 32% | 68% |
| 1940s | 67% | 33% |
| 1930s | 75% | 25% |
| Total | 44% | 56% |
II. Household Composition
|
Residence Description |
Percentage |
|
Residing with spouse only |
10% |
|
Residing with parent |
56% |
|
Residing on own |
23% |
|
Residing with Pre-school Children |
26% |
|
Residing with Elementary School Age Children |
24% |
|
Residing with Secondary Age Students (14 – 19 years) |
35% |
|
Residing with Adult Children |
48% |
Section 2 – Highlights
Language Acquisition
Note: Those individuals born in the 1980’s stated that very little Ojibway was used. Most indicated it was a few phrases and words only.
|
Methods Used to Acquire the Language |
|
Method |
Top Answers |
Just spoke to them in the language |
#1 |
|
Used hand gestures & body motions |
#2 |
|
Used simple language |
#3 |
|
Repeated words & phrases |
#4 |
Family Members’ Language Use
Group 1: Those born in the 1980’s, 1970’s and 1960’s
How often did the following individuals speak to you in Ojibway, before Grade 1?
|
Person |
All Ojibway |
Mostly Ojibway |
Ojibway & English equally |
Some Ojibway |
No Ojibway |
Not Applicable |
|
Mother |
|
|
5% |
14% |
81% |
|
|
Father |
|
|
10% |
19% |
60% |
|
|
Siblings |
|
|
5% |
|
88% |
6% |
| Grand parents who lived with you
|
|
|
|
2% |
42% |
19% |
| Grand parents who did not live with you |
4% |
10% |
|
48% |
2% |
36% |
|
Adults who lived with you |
|
|
|
5% |
52% |
43% |
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group 2: Those born in the 1950’s, 1940’s and 1930’s
How often did the following individuals speak to you in Ojibway, before Grade 1?
|
Person |
All Ojibway |
Mostly Ojibway |
Ojibway & English equally |
Some Ojibway |
No Ojibway |
Not Applicable |
|
Mother |
21% |
29% |
33% |
12% |
5% |
|
|
Father |
23% |
26% |
26% |
5% |
5% |
|
|
Siblings |
|
40% |
|
24% |
|
|
| Grand parents - who lived with you
|
42% |
25% |
13% |
14% |
|
|
| Grand parents - who did not live with you |
28% |
16% |
26% |
10% |
|
|
|
Adults who lived with you |
|
28% |
15% |
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group 1: Those born in the 1980’s, 1970’s and 1960’s
How often did the following individuals speak to you in Ojibway during
Elementary School?
|
Person |
All Ojibway |
Mostly Ojibway |
Ojibway & English equally |
Some Ojibway |
No Ojibway |
Not Applicable |
|
Mother |
|
|
7% |
24% |
69% |
|
|
Father |
|
|
10% |
5% |
85% |
|
|
Siblings |
|
|
|
10% |
90% |
|
| Grand parents - who lived with you |
|
10% |
5% |
10% |
48% |
27% |
| Grand parents - who did not live with you |
5% |
5% |
10% |
48% |
5% |
27% |
|
Adults who lived with you |
|
|
10% |
12% |
48% |
30% |
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group 2: Those born in the 1950’s, 1940’s and 1930’s
How often did the following individuals speak to you in Ojibway during
Elementary School?
|
Person |
All Ojibway |
Mostly Ojibway |
Ojibway & English equally |
Some Ojibway |
No Ojibway |
Not Applicable |
|
Mother |
17% |
15% |
53% |
10% |
5% |
|
|
Father |
17% |
20% |
36% |
17% |
10% |
|
|
Siblings |
12% |
2% |
12% |
14% |
24% |
36% |
| Grand parents - who lived with you |
21% |
2% |
10% |
5% |
2% |
60% |
| Grand parents - who did not live with you |
24% |
19% |
12% |
12% |
2% |
31% |
|
Adults who lived with you |
7% |
|
|
19% |
10% |
64% |
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group 2: Those born in the 1950’s, 1940’s and 1930’s
How often did the following individuals speak to you in Ojibway during
Elementary School?
|
Person |
All Ojibway |
Mostly Ojibway |
Ojibway & English equally |
Some Ojibway |
No Ojibway |
Not Applicable |
|
Mother |
17% |
15% |
53% |
10% |
5% |
|
|
Father |
17% |
20% |
36% |
17% |
10% |
|
|
Siblings |
12% |
2% |
12% |
14% |
24% |
36% |
| Grand parents - who lived with you |
21% |
2% |
10% |
5% |
2% |
60% |
| Grand parents - who did not live with you |
24% |
19% |
12% |
12% |
2% |
31% |
|
Adults who lived with you |
7% |
|
|
19% |
10% |
64% |
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 3 – Highlights
Language Proficiency & Use
SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE
|
rating |
1980’s |
1970’s |
1960’s |
1950’s |
1940’s |
1930’s |
|
Very Well
|
|
|
|
|
44% |
|
|
Well
|
|
|
|
|
|
75% |
|
Fairly Well |
|
10% |
|
21% |
33% |
25% |
|
Not Very Well |
25% |
10% |
13% |
15% |
1% |
|
|
No more than a few words & phrases |
56% |
50% |
38% |
58% |
22% |
|
|
Not at all
|
19% |
30% |
38% |
5% |
|
|
UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE
|
rating |
1980’s |
1970’s |
1960’s |
1950’s |
1940’s |
1930’s |
|
Very Well
|
|
|
|
|
66% |
75% |
|
Well
|
|
|
|
16% |
|
25% |
|
Fairly Well |
19% |
|
13% |
42% |
23% |
|
|
Not Very Well |
24% |
20% |
13% |
26% |
|
|
|
No more than a few words & phrases |
38% |
70% |
31% |
16% |
11% |
|
|
Not at all
|
19% |
10% |
38% |
|
|
|
READING THE LANGUAGE
|
rating |
1980’s |
1970’s |
1960’s |
1950’s |
1940’s |
1930’s |
|
Very Well
|
|
|
|
|
22% |
50% |
|
Well
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fairly Well |
6% |
10% |
|
5% |
22% |
50% |
|
Not Very Well |
38% |
10% |
13% |
26% |
44% |
|
|
No more than a few words & phrases |
44% |
50% |
19% |
27% |
22% |
|
|
Not at all
|
12% |
30% |
68% |
42% |
22% |
|
WRITING THE LANGUAGE
|
rating |
1980’s |
1970’s |
1960’s |
1950’s |
1940’s |
1930’s |
|
Very Well
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well
|
|
|
|
|
|
25% |
|
Fairly Well |
|
10% |
|
|
22% |
50% |
|
Not Very Well |
31% |
20% |
|
5% |
44% |
|
|
No more than a few words & phrases |
50% |
20% |
13% |
21% |
12% |
|
|
Not at all
|
19% |
50% |
87% |
74% |
22% |
25% |
LANGUAGE USE IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS
Section 4 – Highlights
Attitudes, Beliefs & Values Towards the Ojibway Language
|
IS THERE ENOUGH OJIBWAY LANGUAGE HEARD & SPOKEN IN THE COMMUNITY? |
||||||
|
|
1980’s |
1970’s |
1960’s |
1950’s |
1940’s |
1930’s |
|
NOT ENOUGH |
88% |
90% |
88% |
100% |
89% |
100% |
|
ENOUGH |
6% |
|
6% |
|
|
|
|
MORE THAN ENOUGH |
|
|
|
|
11% |
|
|
NOT SURE |
6% |
10% |
6% |
|
|
|
|
* 92% TOGETHER SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH |
||||||
|
WHERE SHOULD THE LANGUAGE BE SPOKEN? |
||||||
|
|
1980’s |
1970’s |
1960’s |
1950’s |
1940’s |
1930’s |
|
AT HOME |
100% |
100% |
100% |
79% |
100% |
100% |
|
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
100% |
100% |
100% |
79% |
66% |
75% |
|
DAY CARE PROGRAM |
100% |
100% |
100% |
79% |
66% |
75% |
|
HEAD START PROGRAM |
100% |
100% |
94% |
79% |
66% |
75% |
|
PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL |
100% |
100% |
100% |
68% |
66% |
75% |
|
IN THE WORKPLACE |
63% |
80% |
75% |
53% |
88% |
75% |
|
CHURCHES |
31% |
80% |
63% |
42% |
77% |
75% |
|
CEREMONIES |
75% |
100% |
75% |
26% |
88% |
100% |
|
SOCIAL & COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS |
75% |
100% |
81% |
58% |
44% |
100% |
|
SPORTS & RECREATION EVENTS |
50% |
70% |
63% |
25% |
44% |
75% |
|
CHANNEL 20 |
44% |
100% |
63% |
37% |
11% |
75% |
|
TOP ANSWER → → → At Home ← ← ← TOP ANSWER |
||||||
|
Community Members have a Responsibility to... Top 10 Answers |
|
|
# 1 |
Acquire the language |
|
# 2 |
Have a positive attitude towards the language revitalization efforts |
|
# 3 |
Speak the language at Home |
|
# 4 |
Learn some phrases, work lists, greetings, etc. |
|
# 5 |
Speak the language in the community & public domains |
|
# 6 |
Be aware & familiar with Ojibway customs & traditions |
|
# 7 |
Volunteer in child geared language programming |
|
# 8 |
Volunteer in community language programming |
|
# 9 |
Support & Participate in language appreciation community events |
|
# 10 |
Financial Contributions to language programming |
|
|
Strongly Agree or Agree |
Neutral |
Strongly Disagree or Disagree |
The Ojibway Language should be saved |
99% |
1% |
|
|
Saving the Ojibway language should be considered a top priority |
85% |
14% |
1% |
|
Speaking & understanding the language is important to maintaining our culture & traditions |
92% |
8% |
|
|
Speaking the language in our homes is critical to saving our language. |
94% |
2% |
2% |
|
A positive community environment should be created to foster the use of the language. |
88% |
12% |
|
|
Transferring the language from one generation to another is very important. |
98% |
2% |
|
|
Our community will be stronger if we let our language die. |
|
5% |
95% |
|
The Ojibway language is not important and should be allowed to die. |
|
5% |
95% |
|
Revitalizing our language is going to take a long time and a lot of work, but we can do it. |
95% |
5% |
|
|
SPEAKERS
|
Strongly Agree or Agree |
Neutral |
Strongly Disagree or Disagree |
|
People who speak the language should make the effort to constantly speak the language at home and in public situations. |
97% |
3% |
|
|
Speakers should not speak the language in front of people who do not understand the language |
4% |
11% |
85% |
|
We need to build the language skills of our speakers & their ability to transfer the language |
90% |
8% |
2% |
|
We need to build a bigger pool of speakers in the community. |
90% |
5% |
5% |
OUR CHILDREN |
Strongly Agree or Agree |
Neutral |
Strongly Disagree or Disagree |
|
Our children will have increased self-esteem and pride if they speak our language. |
88% |
10% |
2% |
|
Pre-school immersion classes should be established right away. |
89% |
9% |
2% |
|
Our long term goal should be to establish immersion schools where quality education is provided in the language. |
84% |
14% |
2% |
|
Hearing our children speak our language makes me proud. |
95% |
5% |
|
|
We need to strengthen our school language education programs. |
93% |
7% |
|
|
I really want my children & grandchildren to acquire the language. |
93% |
7% |
|
|
Children will succeed more in life if they are bilingual (fluent in 2 languages) |
90% |
10% |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree or Agree |
Neutral |
Strongly Disagree or Disagree |
|
Community members should make the effort to acquire the language on their own |
81% |
7% |
2% |
|
Each household should make a financial contribution to help cover the costs to develop language programs aimed at saving our language. |
40% |
25% |
35% |
|
I really want to acquire my language. |
75% |
23% |
2% |
|
GOVERNANCE CHIEF & COUNCIL |
Strongly Agree or Agree |
Neutral |
Strongly Disagree or Disagree |
|
Chief & Council has a role to play in helping community members acquire the language. |
88% |
12% |
|
|
All Departments have a role to play in helping save our language. |
79% |
21% |
|
|
Chief & Council should encourage the use of language at public functions (ie. Sports, meetings and other events) |
79% |
14% |
7% |
|
Some own source funding (ie., Rama, hydro etc.) should be directed to implementing plans to save our language. |
79% |
17% |
4% |
|
|
Strongly Agree or Agree |
Neutral |
Strongly Disagree or Disagree |
|
Language classes should be compulsory for all students |
77% |
12% |
11% |
|
Language classes should be compulsory for all Band employees & elected officials. |
47% |
26% |
27% |
|
A policy should be set that all employees must be able to speak the language in 10-15 years from today. |
46% |
39% |
15% |
|
Ojibway should become the official language of the community. |
61% |
33% |
6% |
|
Community signs should be in Ojibway & English |
93% |
5% |
2% |
|
|
Strongly Agree or Agree |
Neutral |
Strongly Disagree or Disagree |
|
Programs should be set up in the community to assist individuals in acquiring the language. |
92% |
8% |
|
|
Channel 20 should run language programming |
81% |
11% |
8% |
|
Community workshops & conferences should occur to promote how we can acquire our language. |
88% |
10% |
2% |