Indigenous languages support traditional livelihoods and life ways that contribute to Indigenous Peoples\u2019 health, cultural vitality and overall well-being.<\/p>\n
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Revitalizing Indigenous languages is a necessary step to connect people with their cultures and traditions. Arctic Indigenous languages have passed down stories, songs, teachings, and ideas for millennia which make up the cultures of the Peoples who speak them. The ability to understand Arctic Indigenous languages evokes a sense of belonging to place and community and supports an individual\u2019s well-being and a People\u2019s cultural vitality.<\/p>\n
Similarly, generation upon generation have stored Indigenous knowledge in their languages. For example, the North S\u00e1mi language \u2013 which originated where winter lasts more than half a year in northernmost Scandinavia \u2013 contains more than 318 expressions related to snow and ice. The concepts encompass Indigenous knowledge about sustainability, human working conditions, and reindeer health that have contributed to prosperous reindeer herding since time immemorial.<\/p>\n
Indigenous Peoples\u2019 abilities to adapt their livelihoods in the face of continuous change is dependent on traditional knowledge embodied in Indigenous languages. Language loss has a direct correlation to loss of the practical skills needed to maintain traditional livelihoods.<\/p>\n
Continuing to fish, herd, hunt and gather is important because subsistence diets support human health and environmental sustainability, while practicing the languages and activities connected to traditional livelihoods promotes cultural and social prosperity. Therefore, Indigenous languages are not just tools for communication but important components to preserve and develop Indigenous Peoples\u2019 knowledge systems, health, and well-being.<\/p>\n