Nearly six decades of preserving and revitalizing the Nisga’a language has earned Elder and language educator Ts’aa Gabin (Verna Williams) one of Canada’s highest civilian honours.
Ts’aa Gabin has been appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to protecting the Nisga’a language and traditional knowledge. Her work includes helping develop the Nisga’a Language Student Vocabulary Guide, contributing to the FirstVoices language archive, and creating learning resources that continue to support language learners across the Nation.
Speaking with CFNR News, Ts’aa Gabin said her first reaction to the appointment was disbelief.
“I thought it was a scam. I get a lot of scams,” she said with a laugh.
Once she realized the honour was genuine, she hoped it would reinforce the importance of preserving the Nisga’a language.
“I would think that the Nisga’a Nation would know that our language is very important. That’s why I worked almost 60 years trying to revive our language.”
Ts’aa Gabin said language and culture are inseparable and must be preserved together.
“It’s our life and you cannot separate the two. When you teach language, culture is involved, and with culture, language is involved.”
She said she is encouraged to hear more young people speaking Nisga’a at feasts and community gatherings, adding that confidence grows each time they use the language.
Throughout her career, Ts’aa Gabin has also created workbooks and dictionaries, including a dictionary containing nearly 4,000 words, helping ensure future generations have the tools to continue learning and strengthening the Nisga’a language.
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