WebJunction

The Lillooet Library has been adding St’at’imc language translations to the baby board book given by the Library to every newborn and mum in our community. Over 60% of community members are of St’at’imc origin, but only one hundred native people are still fluent in their language. The Library felt that we could allow everyone access to the spoken language by putting audio files on our website with the St’at’imc translations of two of the nursery rhyme books. That was the challenge for our summer YCW student.

Having contacted the local FM radio station manager, Meg arranged for training sessions in the operation of the recording equipment, and then worked with the language teacher and the Chief Librarian to make the sound recordings which present the songs in St’at’imc and English. She then contacted the teacher, principal, parents and children to obtain permission to record seven Grade Five children of both cultures, reading their stories: “ Why I Love Lillooet”. Then followed the more intricate editing process on the radio station computer. After hours of finicky compression of audio data and editing sound effects in and out, the desired files were created, the web pages made to hold the files, with photos added to go in with the children’s stories illustrating their content.

Having this material on our web page is a small step toward introducing the non-native community to the St’at’imc spoken and written language, and provides the St’at’imc children an opportunity to hear the songs they are taught in Kindergarten and Grade One with their families at home. The library does hold songs by the St’at’imc Singers Drum and Dance group, and a CDROM is installed on one computer with a St’at’imc vocabulary building game.   But with the language presented online, it is available to anyone who wishes to hear it – be it ever so limited in nature.   The children’s stories are our first step in digitizing local stories, histories, and reflections of the land on which we walk. http://lillooet.bclibrary.ca/   Stories and Songs on the sidebar will take you there.

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