After more than six years of planning and work, Qualicum First Nation Chief Michael Recalma and his language committee recently joined FPCC staff, Board and Advisory members at FPCC’s Annual General Meeting to celebrate the announcement of the pentl’ach language reawakening (pronounced punt-lutch). 

Since the 1940s, when the last known speaker passed away, pentl’ach was listed as a “sleeping” language, a language with no active speakers. The community never accepted the language was gone, maintaining bits of knowledge and words that connected them to their ancestors. It was the vision of Chief Recalma who in 2017 initiated a focused effort to reawaken pentl’ach that put the language on the path to full reawakening.

“The pentl’ach language is a vital part of the Qualicum First Nation’s culture and us as people,” says Chief Recalma. “Language reflects who we are and where we come from.” 

Read more: https://fpcc.ca/stories/pentlach-language/