This website is part of a research study about reclaiming Indigenous sign languages and cultures, and strengthening services for young Indigenous deaf children and their families and communities. The featured videos are from workshops that were held on October 23, 2021 and August 17, 2022.
Publications
Reclaiming Indigenous Sign Languages and Supporting Accessibility and Inclusion for Indigenous Deaf Children and their Families (external link, opens in new window)
By Kristin Snoddon, Dominique Ireland, Joel Abram, Marsha Ireland, Max Ireland, Elizabeth Osawamick, Shelly Tanner, Miigwaans Osawamick-Sagassige, Shayla-Rae Tanner
Full Citation
Snoddon, K., Ireland, D., Abram, J., Ireland, M., Ireland, M., Osawamick, E., Tanner, S., Osawamick-Sagassige, M., & Tanner, S.-R. (2024). Reclaiming Indigenous Sign Languages and Supporting Accessibility and Inclusion for Indigenous Deaf Children and their Families. First Peoples Child & Family Review, 19(1), 10-27. Retrieved from https://fpcfr.com/index.php/FPCFR/article/view/617 (external link, opens in new window)
Videos
Marsha Ireland
Marsha Ireland, an Oneida deaf elder, discusses the importance of a sense of identity, belonging, and pride for Indigenous deaf children who have intersectional identities.
Marsha Ireland discusses the trauma and oppression experienced by Indigenous children and communities, and the importance of language for connection, reconciliation and breaking down barriers. This video is in ASL and Oneida Sign Language with Auslan interpretation.
Max Ireland
Max Ireland, an Oneida elder, discusses the need to work with Indigenous nations and political leaders, as he and Marsha Ireland did with the Oneida Sign Language Project. Max also describes the process of developing the Oneida Sign Language guidebook.
Shayla-Rae Tanner
Shayla-Rae Tanner shares her identity as a youth from Cowessess First Nations who first encountered ASL and learned about deaf culture in grade nine. Her dramatic performances as a member of Deaf Crows Collective are a place where her First Nations and deaf identities have found expression.
Miigwaans Osawamick-Sagassige
Miigwaans Osawamick-Sagassige, an Ojibway youth, shares his experiences with learning sign language as a young child and interacting with his hearing family. He describes his experiences as a student at a provincial school for the deaf.
The Research Team
- Joel Abram
- Rodney Adams
- Marsha Ireland
- Max Ireland
- Elizabeth Osawamick
- Miigwaans Osawamick-Sagassige
- Shelly Tanner
- Shayla-Rae Tanner
Principal Investigator
Kristin Snoddon
Research Assistant
Dominique Ireland
Collaborators
Joanne Weber
Erin Wilkinson
The project team works closely with the Inclusive Early Childhood Service System (IECSS).
