{"id":848,"date":"2025-10-14T10:35:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T14:35:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/?p=848"},"modified":"2025-10-14T21:45:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T01:45:38","slug":"naskapi-language-team-contributes-to-national-first-nations-translator-workshop-in-calgary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/naskapi-language-team-contributes-to-national-first-nations-translator-workshop-in-calgary\/","title":{"rendered":"Naskapi Language Team Contributes to National First Nations Translator Workshop in Calgary"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"430\" data-end=\"659\">The Naskapi Development Corporation is proud to highlight the participation of the Naskapi language team at the 2025 First Nations Translator Workshop, held from <strong data-start=\"604\" data-end=\"632\">September 21 to 26, 2025<\/strong> in <strong data-start=\"636\" data-end=\"656\">Calgary, Alberta<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"1025\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-849\" src=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-560602007-10108486045214162-8519556321403353290-n-2048-x-1152.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-560602007-10108486045214162-8519556321403353290-n-2048-x-1152.png 1500w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-560602007-10108486045214162-8519556321403353290-n-2048-x-1152-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-560602007-10108486045214162-8519556321403353290-n-2048-x-1152-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-560602007-10108486045214162-8519556321403353290-n-2048-x-1152-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>After ten years of being hosted in Guelph, Ontario, the workshop was moved west this year to better serve Indigenous language groups across the country. The event gathered translators and educators from <strong data-start=\"864\" data-end=\"896\">four First Nations languages<\/strong>\u2014Naskapi, Anihshininiimowin (Oji-Cree), Blackfoot, and Kwak\u2019wala\u2014for a week of learning, collaboration, and community building.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1085\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-850\" src=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-555459604-10235094230849820-83310592728555716-n-960-x-720.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-555459604-10235094230849820-83310592728555716-n-960-x-720.png 960w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-555459604-10235094230849820-83310592728555716-n-960-x-720-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-555459604-10235094230849820-83310592728555716-n-960-x-720-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>Representing the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach were:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1086\" data-end=\"1214\">\n<li data-start=\"1086\" data-end=\"1111\">\n<p data-start=\"1088\" data-end=\"1111\"><strong data-start=\"1088\" data-end=\"1109\">Silas Nabinicaboo<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1112\" data-end=\"1137\">\n<p data-start=\"1114\" data-end=\"1137\"><strong data-start=\"1114\" data-end=\"1135\">Susan Nabinicaboo<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1138\" data-end=\"1165\">\n<p data-start=\"1140\" data-end=\"1165\"><strong data-start=\"1140\" data-end=\"1163\">Ruby Sandy Robinson<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1166\" data-end=\"1188\">\n<p data-start=\"1168\" data-end=\"1188\"><strong data-start=\"1168\" data-end=\"1186\">George Guanish<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1189\" data-end=\"1214\">\n<p data-start=\"1191\" data-end=\"1214\"><strong data-start=\"1191\" data-end=\"1212\">Christina Mokoush<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1216\" data-end=\"1737\">Silas, Susan, and Ruby\u2014members of the Naskapi Development Corporation\u2019s retired language team\u2014attended as part of professional development supported by the <strong data-start=\"1372\" data-end=\"1413\">Naskapi Local Management Board (NLMB)<\/strong> and the <strong data-start=\"1422\" data-end=\"1440\">Naskapi Nation<\/strong>, with additional costs covered by the NDC. Christina, now teaching Naskapi at Jimmy Sandy Memorial School after completing her Naskapi-McGill training, and George, translator for the Naskapi Nation Office, represented language workers continuing this important work.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1739\" data-end=\"2103\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-851\" src=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-555658877-10235094227049725-2037316347431415157-n-960-x-720.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-555658877-10235094227049725-2037316347431415157-n-960-x-720.png 960w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-555658877-10235094227049725-2037316347431415157-n-960-x-720-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-555658877-10235094227049725-2037316347431415157-n-960-x-720-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>The workshop was coordinated by <strong data-start=\"1771\" data-end=\"1804\">Bill and Norma Jean Jancewicz<\/strong>, with support from <strong data-start=\"1824\" data-end=\"1837\">Tom Scott<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1839\" data-end=\"1855\">Matt Windsor<\/strong>, and other facilitators from <strong data-start=\"1885\" data-end=\"1915\">Wycliffe Bible Translators<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1917\" data-end=\"1938\">SIL International<\/strong>, the <strong data-start=\"1944\" data-end=\"1970\">Canadian Bible Society<\/strong>, and the <strong data-start=\"1980\" data-end=\"2015\">Canada Institute of Linguistics<\/strong>. Together, they led sessions on key translation and revitalization topics, including:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2104\" data-end=\"2303\">\n<li data-start=\"2104\" data-end=\"2137\">\n<p data-start=\"2106\" data-end=\"2137\"><em data-start=\"2106\" data-end=\"2135\">Who is our translation for?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2138\" data-end=\"2176\">\n<p data-start=\"2140\" data-end=\"2176\"><em data-start=\"2140\" data-end=\"2174\">How do we translate the meaning?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2177\" data-end=\"2210\">\n<p data-start=\"2179\" data-end=\"2210\"><em data-start=\"2179\" data-end=\"2208\">What is community-checking?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2211\" data-end=\"2252\">\n<p data-start=\"2213\" data-end=\"2252\"><em data-start=\"2213\" data-end=\"2250\">How can we strengthen our language?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2253\" data-end=\"2303\">\n<p data-start=\"2255\" data-end=\"2303\"><em data-start=\"2255\" data-end=\"2301\">How do we discover the meaning of a passage?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2305\" data-end=\"2552\">During breakout sessions, participants applied these principles directly to their own projects. The <strong data-start=\"2405\" data-end=\"2421\">Naskapi team <\/strong>continued\u00a0consultant-checking and approving chapters in the <strong data-start=\"2482\" data-end=\"2500\">Book of Esther<\/strong>, building upon years of ongoing translation work.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2554\" data-end=\"2683\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-852\" src=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-549299676-10172731131400486-1543640945827830079-n-2048-x-1536.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-549299676-10172731131400486-1543640945827830079-n-2048-x-1536.png 1500w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-549299676-10172731131400486-1543640945827830079-n-2048-x-1536-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-549299676-10172731131400486-1543640945827830079-n-2048-x-1536-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-549299676-10172731131400486-1543640945827830079-n-2048-x-1536-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>Tom Scott, one of the workshop facilitators, shared several reflections from participants that captured the heart of the event:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2684\" data-end=\"3065\">\n<p data-start=\"2686\" data-end=\"2774\">\u201cIt\u2019s good to know not just what to do next, but why,\u201d said one first-year translator.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2781\" data-end=\"2879\">\u201cKids today are hungry to learn their language and they\u2019re savvy,\u201d another participant observed.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2886\" data-end=\"3065\">Bishop Lydia Mamakwa, a leader from the Oji-Cree team, reflected, \u201cIt was the vision of the Elders that our people would be able to worship God in the language that He gave us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"3067\" data-end=\"3259\">These sentiments echo the mission shared by the Naskapi Development Corporation\u2014to strengthen and sustain the Naskapi language through education, translation, and intergenerational learning.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3261\" data-end=\"3612\">Despite a few challenges during the week, the workshop was a success, with staff and participants stepping up to support one another. In Bill Jancewicz\u2019s words, \u201cThese workshops provide an anchor for our translation teams. They not only build practical skills but foster strong fellowship among colleagues serving their communities in similar ways.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3614\" data-end=\"3836\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-853\" src=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-558172341-10172817992320486-6002796104855311377-n-1536-x-2048.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1125\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-558172341-10172817992320486-6002796104855311377-n-1536-x-2048.png 1125w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-558172341-10172817992320486-6002796104855311377-n-1536-x-2048-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/naskapi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-first-nations-bible-translator-workshop-calgary-ab-benjamin-jancewicz-558172341-10172817992320486-6002796104855311377-n-1536-x-2048-768x1024.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1125px) 100vw, 1125px\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3614\" data-end=\"3836\">The NDC expresses heartfelt gratitude to the <strong data-start=\"3659\" data-end=\"3693\">Naskapi Local Management Board<\/strong> and the <strong data-start=\"3702\" data-end=\"3720\">Naskapi Nation<\/strong> for their continued support in advancing professional development and capacity building in Naskapi language work.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3838\" data-end=\"3957\">To learn more about the history of these workshops and their impact, visit the <strong data-start=\"3917\" data-end=\"3947\">Northern Translation Brief<\/strong> series:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3958\" data-end=\"4480\">\n<li data-start=\"3958\" data-end=\"4083\">\n<p data-start=\"3960\" data-end=\"4083\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/6a51e5791b7f\/northern-translation-brief-2025-first-nations-translator-workshop\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"3960\" data-end=\"4081\">2025 Workshop Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4084\" data-end=\"4215\">\n<p data-start=\"4086\" data-end=\"4215\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/billjancewicz.com\/2023\/11\/17\/northern-translation-brief-2023-first-nations-translator-workshop\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"4086\" data-end=\"4213\">2023 Workshop Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4216\" data-end=\"4347\">\n<p data-start=\"4218\" data-end=\"4347\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/billjancewicz.com\/2022\/11\/15\/northern-translation-brief-2022-first-nations-translator-workshop\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"4218\" data-end=\"4345\">2022 Workshop Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4348\" data-end=\"4480\">\n<p data-start=\"4350\" data-end=\"4480\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/billjancewicz.com\/2015\/05\/04\/northern-translation-brief-mother-tongue-translator-mtt-workshop\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"4350\" data-end=\"4478\">2015 Background Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Naskapi Development Corporation is proud to highlight the participation of the Naskapi language team at the 2025 First Nations Translator Workshop, held from September 21 to 26, 2025 in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":849,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-848","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-press-releases"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=848"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":856,"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848\/revisions\/856"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naskapi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}