Jordan's profile

6 Messages

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174 Points

Monday, June 27th, 2022 7:25 PM

No Status

35

Recognition of Michif as a Language

This is a poll proposing that Michif, the Métis language, be acknowledged by IMDB as a language. Please upvote if you agree that it should be recognized and added in. 

1 Message

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60 Points

11 months ago

The Michif language should definitely be acknowledged and recognized by IMDB, this should be added as soon as possible!

2 Messages

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72 Points

11 months ago

I support IMDB adding Mitchif to its list of recognized languages - it is crucial that companies and cultural organizations support its revitalization rather than contributing to its erasure. This is a simple step, there is no reason it cannot be done quickly. 

(edited)

2.5K Messages

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76.2K Points

11 months ago

In which film(s) is this language used?

Also, don't hold your breath, unfortunately, IMDb isn't very good (or very willing?) when it comes to adding new languages: https://community-imdb.sprinklr.com/conversations/data-issues-policy-discussions/please-add-the-shipibo-language-to-the-database/5f4a7ae28815453dbabfa6bc

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46.5K Points

@Marco

This post was started by Métis director Jordan Waunch, and it is advertised as a petition here:

‘Shadow of the Rougarou’ highlights Métis mythology. Its producers want IMDb to acknowledge its Métis language too

Métis director Jordan Waunch says the Métis language Michif was “almost stamped out of existence” during colonization.

Relevant keywords: 

michif (12 titles)

metis (27 titles)

metis-people (1 title)

2.5K Messages

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76.2K Points

@keyword_expert​ Thanks for the interesting background on this.

6 Messages

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174 Points

@Marco​ appreciate the conversation, really interesting to learn about the Shipibo language and the fight to get it recognized via IMDB; hope to see it and many other Indigenous languages across the globe receive recognition on this platform and others like it. 

6 Messages

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174 Points

@keyword_expert​ thank you! Appreciate it. 

2.5K Messages

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76.2K Points

@Jordan​ Just so everybody's on the same page: at least one title in the database should have a certain language spoken in it, otherwise, the language can't be listed in the database.

1 Message

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62 Points

11 months ago

Michif is an endangered language and recognition of our language is paramount to recognition of the Métis Nation, heritage and culture. 

Michif absolutely must be a language option on IMDB or else they are continuing the systemic erasure, exclusion and reduction of Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to cinema. For the Métis, this has an even more pressing concern as we currently fight for our Rights as an Aboriginal Nation in Canada, and our Right to our language is an essential component of our identity as a Nation. 

Thank you for creating this film, creating this dialogue, and encouraging continued discourse about our Nation in a variety of media.

2 Messages

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70 Points

11 months ago

Absolutely!  It's the right thing to do.  Please.

2 Messages

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70 Points

11 months ago

Absolutely.  It's the right thing to do.  Please help preserve the endangered language.

2 Messages

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90 Points

10 months ago

No brainer.  Recognize the language of the largest indigenous groups on the continent.  

2 Messages

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90 Points

10 months ago

IMDB, I don’t know which brainiac there even allowed this as a poll. It’s a no brainer. The Métis are one of the largest and proudest indigenous groups on the continent. We are referred to as either Métis or Michif, and this is a unique sociolinguistic identity, not just a language.  

Recognize the language, and don’t be silly. 

1 Message

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60 Points

10 months ago

Add it! It can’t be any harder than adding another option on your drop down menu!

1 Message

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60 Points

10 months ago

Michif should be regonized bu the IMDB

1 Message

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60 Points

10 months ago

While not an expert; my knowledge has been gained from reading. It is my understanding that Michif has been around since between 1820 and 1840 and is the result of mixed languages. Michif is the language of Métis people and I have read that it was the result of mixing First Nation languages (Cree, Nakota, Ojibwe) and fur trade languages (French and Scottish) resulting from the union of First Nation women with fur traders. This would have been well before colonization in 1867. Not enough recognition is given to the fact that without First Nation women’s expertise, the fur traders, the HBC, the NWC would not have been successful. The First Nation women not only had the skills to survive the harsh conditions but knew how to make pemican, clothing from Buffalo, and in my case Mary Mackagonne’s family made and repaired birch bark canoes. Mary was known to travel with her husband (fur trader Peter Fidler) when he (with David Thompson) mapped Western Canada. So much recognition was given to the men and the corporations, but truly, without the First Nation women they would not have survived as well as they did, if at all. Language is super important so Michif too would have played an integral role in communication and would have been here well before 1867 when Canada became a federated country!

2 Messages

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70 Points

10 months ago

Of course Michif should be recognized. 

2 Messages

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70 Points

10 months ago

Make it official! Yay Michif! It’s what my relatives spoke!