Learning on the job
An illustration of Indigenous workers building a structure together. (Credit: Ganienkeh & Warrior Society)
Story told by Allen Simon
I can speak English and French but my first language is Mohawk.
I learned French by working with the French people. They would talk to me in French and I would talk back to them in English and it never caused me any problems. We did this until I finally got the courage to start speaking French.
The people that I worked with helped me. If I couldn’t say the word and if they could, they’d tell me how to say it. I received my education right there with those workers. Learning on the job is not the same as in school. I think it's easier to learn French this way.
Our language is so precious to us, but it's good to know English and French, especially if you're working. Learning Mohawk, well that's something else.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION 〰️
Othé:nen aieweientéhta'ne' tsi iakoió'te'
Allen Simon ROKÁ:RATON
Kahrónkha' Tiohrhèn:sha tánon' O'seronni'kéha nek tsi Kanien'kéha nen' nè:'e ne tiotierénhton wakahronkhà:'on.
O'seronni'kéha wa'kà:ronke' tsi O'serón:ni wa'onkwaió'ten'. O'seronni'kéha shos enionkwatewennontáhkwen' sok Tiohrhèn:sha ensekheiatewennontáhkwen' tánon' iah nonwén:ton othé:nen teiori'tstón:ni. Ionsaiakwatahsónteren' kí:ken tsi niió:re iahonke'nikonhratshahníhta'ne' nakatá:ti' O'seronni'kéha.
Wa'ontié:nawa'se' wáhi néne tsi niká:ien skátne ionkwaió'tehkwe'. Tóka' iah thakkwé:ni' nowén:na' akì:ron' tánon' rotikwénion ne ronónha, enionkhró:ri' shos tsi ní:ioht tsi akatatewennónnien'. Kwah thí:ken rotiio'ténion' wa'onkwaterihwaienstáhtsheron'. Iah sha'té:ioht té:ken othé:nen aieweientéhta'ne' tsi iakoió'te' tánon' othé:nen aieweientéhta'ne' tsi ionterihwaiénstha'. Kwah í:kehre' sénha watié:sen naiòn:ronke' O'seronni'kéha ken' ní:ioht.
É:so tsi kanó:ron nonkwarihwà:ke ne onkwawén:na', nek tsi ioiánere' wáhi naionhrónkhake Tiohrhèn:sha tánon' O'seronni'kéha, sénha tóka' saió'te'. Né: Kanien'kéha aieweientéhta'ne', ahsì:ron' ki' nà:'a tsi ó:ia' nahò:ten' ne thí:ken.
Edited by: Jonathan Turenne - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Karonhí:io Delaronde