WIIKWEMKOONG, Ontario, June 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To celebrate National Indigenous History Month, a program called Challenge4Change has been launched in Ontario to fundraise for the retention and growth of Indigenous Languages and Culture. There are very few reconciliation initiatives that we can champion together. Language is one of them where we, as Canadians, can all come together for lasting change.



As part of the action-based program, a fun and engaging, free app has been developed that lets you learn common words and phrases in Anishinaabemowin - once the everyday language of many Indigenous communities in Ontario. It is available for download at The App Store and Google Play. You can then exchange words with friends, neighbours and co-workers as well as donate to show your support, and see how your highest score ranks alongside others in the friendly competition!

Indigenous languages are disappearing at an alarming rate. "The number of people who are identifying fluency is dropping dramatically, almost in half in the last 20 years," says Arif Virani, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian Heritage. "There's no Indigenous language that is technically safe. Every language is unsafe or endangered."

Challenge4Change is part of an ongoing campaign, and will be followed by a school program in March of 2019 to coincide with National Indigenous Languages Month. Then it will expand to other Indigenous languages and to a broader umbrella program that will cover other key initiatives including youth empowerment, economic development, governance, health and wellness.

“We’ve started the work but need your help to reach our goal,” is the message from Ogimaa, or Chief, Duke Peltier of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.

www.Challenge4Change.ca

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Challenge4Change is led by Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and supported by Synergiq Solutions of Toronto. Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory is situated on Odawa Mnis, now known as Manitoulin Island, in Ontario. It’s a community of 7,200 Anishinabek members with 2,900 living in Wiikwemkoong.