GUELPH, Ont. – (CANADIAN CHRISTIAN NEWS SERVICE) – The Mother Tongue Translator (MTT) Workshop, April 20-24, is a one-week workshop, held in Guelph, Ont., and hosted by the Canadian Bible Society (CBS) for First Nations translators who want to enhance their knowledge and skills in translation principles.
The workshop is targeted to both beginner and more experienced translators who wish to be more effective in written communication in their own language, and interact with other First Nations speakers who are engaged in language development.
Building on years of partnership and expertise in First Nations translation of Scripture, this workshop equips First Nations speakers interested in doing translation at the personal, family, community, church, band, or business level.
“We were created to be Anishinabe (First Nations people), so it’s important to use our language in our worship,” says the Rt. Rev. Lydia Mamakwa, Bishop of the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh, a diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada. “What we have as indigenous people is very special, it’s a gift from the Creator. And we have to do everything we can to preserve our language, so people can get to know God in their own language.”
The workshop is part of a “capacity-building” initiative undertaken collaboratively by Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Canadian Bible Society, and the Anglican Church of Canada. This particular initiative engages speakers of Cree languages – languages, which continue to be actively spoken in First Nations communities from Alberta to Quebec.
While participants will gain translation skills that can serve them in various capacities, this initiative is primarily intended to create the foundation for a new generation of Bible translators to meet the ongoing demand for Bible translation by First Nations language groups.
“This workshop is needed because First Nations persons have requested training in skills that are necessary for them to gain competence and capacity for the Bible translation task in their own languages,” says Bill Jancewicz, workshop coordinator with Wycliffe Bible Translators.
The participants’ awareness of other First Nations languages, cultures and common translation issues will be raised by classroom presentation and discussion. Devotional times are part of the experience, addressing practical spiritual issues and the application of Bible knowledge.
The Digital Tools portion, an area of special CBS expertise, will focus on hands-on training in computer file management, translation software, computer-based resources, and native language word-processing.
Participants will receive a completion certificate, which, although not the same as college credit, indicates a level of competence, confidence and encouragement to those interested in translation work.
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For more information or interviews contact:
Shelley D. McLagan, Communications Consultant
Email: smclagan@biblesociety.ca
Phone: 1-800-465-2425 x3424
Web: www.biblesociety.ca