How NATIONS is Using Technology to Fight Indigenous Language Loss

There are over 70 Indigenous languages in Canada, and all of them are at risk. 

Classified by UNESCO as vulnerable or endangered, many of these languages are not being passed on to younger generations who stand to lose their culture, history and heritage along with their native tongue.

In recent years, there have been efforts to reverse this language loss among First Nations communities but progress has been slow and the decline continues. 

As Canada’s largest 100% Indigenous-owned translation group, NATIONS is doing its part to push language preservation from the private sector, opening up economic opportunities for speakers by offering high-quality translation services in over 30 Indigenous languages. 

Technology is central to those efforts, helping NATIONS’ Indigenous translators deliver faster, more efficient service and build out resources that can scale up as needed. From project management portals to AI-assisted editing, these modern-day tools have a huge role to play in reviving ancient languages.

Embracing innovation

NATIONS is proud of its 30+ year history in language services but is firmly focused on the future, taking a forward-looking approach to the latest technologies and innovation in the market. The company was the first language services provider in Canada to use Robotic Process Automation in project management and has since adopted Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools to further refine workflows.

When it comes to translating Indigenous languages, NATIONS doesn’t just rely on its in-house team. The company also contracts with third-party Indigenous language experts, creating opportunities and resources for speakers - all facilitated by a technology-fueled network.

NATIONS Board Chair Scott Patles-Richardson explains: “NATIONS has built out an Indigenous language platform that can be utilized as a tool to retain, attract and grow Indigenous language speakers and knowledge keepers. We have a tremendous repository of Indigenous speakers on our platform, so they can earn a living, teaching and translating and interpreting in their languages. The more we can use technology to create that network and those libraries, the more we can bring Indigenous language translation and interpretation up to the same translation standards as other languages in the industry.

“We want to give Indigenous languages the same chance that other languages have to grow and thrive.  Given the urgency to preserve our languages, this is a tremendous opportunity to use NATIONS as a platform to give additional tools and life to our languages.”

-Scott Patles-Richardson, Chairman of the Board,
NATIONS Translation Group

Creating opportunities for Indigenous language translators

Technology allows translators to save time, expenses and resources but it’s not a one-size-fits-all-solution. Human translators remain integral to language services, especially in Indigenous translations.

Indigenous languages are unique. Emotions, actions, history - these are all woven into the words, making translation a nuanced task that requires a deep understanding of the context and message. Computers can help, but they can’t look past the words on the page. That’s why Indigenous speakers and knowledge-keepers are irreplaceable.  

“Our translators aren’t going anywhere,” says Patles-Richardson. “It's about how we utilize technology in the LSP context to produce better, more consistent results and how to optimize all the tools translators have at their disposal. Despite technological advances, we still need language experts to pilot all this technology with their extensive knowledge in language.”

And that’s good news for Indigenous communities - the more visible their languages become, the more translators will be needed, providing economic opportunities for Indigenous youth and a platform to practice and promote their language.

“It's no different than somebody who has to learn a trade because it’s needed - like when you need a plumber or a pipefitter. If we need translators in our languages, then that creates a career path for our youth and who are then encouraged to learn their language because they can make a living at it, which we hope will normalize our language use and promote more speakers,” says Patles-Richardson.

But how to make these languages more visible? Language preservation has recently become an area of interest for the public sector, but the private sector has been slow to catch up. 

“There has to be a business case for it,” explains Patles-Richardson. “There are language laws in Canada so everything has to be available in the official languages of French and English. We're trying to amplify our own languages so that they're more encased in law and will trickle down into businesses having to communicate to some of our communities.”

Change is happening. NATIONS has worked with many high-profile clients to open up communication in Indigenous languages, and is proud to be a long-term partner of the Royal Bank of Canada, translating its annual Indigenous Partnership Report into Cree, Blackfoot, and other Indigenous languages.

Global language revitalization 

In helping drive change, NATIONS has an uphill battle. A proud Mi’kmaq citizen from Pabineau First Nation in northern New Brunswick, Patles-Richardson knows firsthand the legacy of Canada’s troubled relationship with its Indigenous peoples. 

“We're hoping that we can become an amplifier to our languages but it's a monumental task because of the legacy of the Indian residential schools where children were taken from their homes with the sole purpose of eradicating our language and culture. And there was a period of time where a lot of indigenous speakers purposefully didn't teach their children their language because they thought it would somehow disenfranchise them. There's a lot of undoing that we need to come back from with Canada’s colonial history with Indigenous Peoples.”

Translation technology can be a part of that way back. From apps to keyboards, there are more tools than ever assisting Indigenous youth in reconnecting with their languages. Patles-Richardson welcomes these as a way to reach people who have become isolated from their heritage, saying: “When you’re not engulfed in your language, you can lose it. A lot of our people moved off the reserve and away from their communities where it may be spoken more commonly. Now they can use technology to practice and interact with other speakers.”

For NATIONS, it’s a privilege to be part of the language revitalization movement, and an exciting time to be in language services. The company is making Indigenous languages an important part of its mission going forward as it eyes expansion and new opportunities. 

“NATIONS is in growth mode. We've hired a trilingual Indigenous interpreter to help grow our interpretation platform and I think there's still more opportunity to amplify our message in the Indigenous community.”

Looking ahead, NATIONS is focused on global growth with an ambitious plan to take lessons learned from Canada to other communities in need. There’s a lot to be done but Patles-Richardson is excited to build on NATIONS success, spreading the message that language loss doesn’t have to lead to language extinction.

“American Indians have the same challenges that our Indigenous communities have here with language preservation so hopefully we can share some best practices and find some partnership opportunities with our American Indian brothers and sisters to take what we’re doing with language preservation in Canada down to the United States. I see us continuing to grow and create opportunities for our staff and for Indigenous language speakers in general.”

Interested in finding out more about NATIONS’ Indigenous translations, or other language services?
Get in touch with our team to schedule a consultation and see how we can support your language needs.