David Kirsipuu-Fortin, Master’s Student: Understanding how digital technologies are used to revitalize Indigenous languages 

David Kirsipuu-Fortin is enrolled in Bishop’s University in an Individualized Master’s program supervised by Dr. Genner Llanes-Ortiz, with a focus on Sociology and the Sociolinguistics of Indigenous languages spoken in Québec. The flexibility afforded by the program, which requires creating a custom academic plan, allowed him to clearly define his research objectives from the outset. By taking two sociology courses and one knowledge mobilization course at Bishop’s, along with two linguistics classes from Université de Sherbrooke, he was able to steer his research in the precise direction needed to complete his envisioned project.

He has always aspired to attain the highest levels of education and turn his passion for languages into a meaningful and fulfilling career. Growing up in a multilingual environment, he developed a keen interest in studying linguistics and languages. Over the years, he has studied more than forty languages, using applications, self-study books, and formal classes. While he is obviously not fluent in all of them, he can engage conversationally in about a dozen and is fluent in seven others.

A decade ago, he realized that he should channel his passion for languages toward studying Indigenous languages, beginning with Lillooet. Later, he learned Abenaki during its first year as a course offering at Bishop’s and was subsequently hired to contribute to its revitalization projects. He even created a three-hundred-page dictionary that was used in Abenaki class at Bishop’s during two academic years. This sequence of events led him away from English literature and back to linguistics, inspiring his master’s project, which examines the current situation of the Indigenous languages spoken in Québec and their revitalization efforts using digital technologies. This topic remains understudied, and as part of the budding truth and reconciliation process in Canada and Québec, David believes we all have a responsibility to contribute our strengths toward supporting these efforts.

There is plenty of room for additional research on the revitalization of Indigenous languages using digital technologies in Québec. David’s research aims to systematize key aspects of past and ongoing projects into an accessible resource, fostering further research. He is currently gathering information from databases and Indigenous nations’ websites and will soon begin its analysis. He will then combine these insights with descriptions of linguistic features by their integration or adaptation into digital platforms. Ultimately, he hopes this compendium will be a valuable tool for Indigenous nations and scholars, providing a launchpad for exploring specific digital projects and linguistic features of Indigenous languages in Québec. A significant concern in David’s research is ensuring data sovereignty for Indigenous knowledge, languages, and cultures, particularly in the digital realm. To this end, interviews will explicitly state that the data is their property. If participants request that his master’s project remain unpublished, he will fully respect their wishes. Developing meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities will be a key component of these processes and analyses.

David has spent the last year organizing databases into accessible and searchable lists of revitalization projects on digital platforms. These lists categorize projects by name, language, and platform type, such as applications, websites, or YouTube channels. The most fulfilling aspect of this work is the thrill of compiling scattered information into a cohesive document that can benefit both scholars and Indigenous partners and participants. Analyzing these datasets also reveals significant trends, such as which communities have a stronger online presence or favor speech over writing through mediums like videos and podcasts.

In his spare time, David enjoys studying and refining his notes on the languages he’s learned, often discovering fascinating overlaps with ideas from his academic work. David’s love for languages animates his belief that his research will be useful to many people. When things become overwhelming, he takes breaks to focus on creative art and writing. He believes it is crucial to dedicate at least one day per weekend to doing something else, whether it is immersing himself in a fantasy or science fiction universe, hiking, or catching up on a favorite show. According to him, maintaining balance is essential.

David Kirsipuu-Fortin aspires to teach and conduct research simultaneously, supporting the revitalization of Indigenous languages, particularly in Québec. His current projects include translating a centuries-old Latin-Abenaki manuscript into French and creating expanded grammars for the Abenaki language in both English and French. While his master’s research focuses on linguistic and technological analysis related to Indigenous languages in Québec, he wishes to develop meaningful relationships with the Abenakis and other Indigenous peoples to specialize in Indigenous linguistic revitalization at the doctoral level. Looking ahead, he hopes to explore ideas that could support greater interconnectedness among Indigenous nations in Québec, as well as between linguists and Indigenous communities—always centering Indigenous perspectives and priorities. This might include brainstorming projects like collaborative dictionary curation or language classes taught directly from one Indigenous language to another, without colonial-language intermediaries. Ultimately, any such initiatives will be shaped and led by the Indigenous communities themselves, respecting their visions for language revitalization.

Joannie St-Germain M.Sc. (she/her/elle)
RESEARCH OFFICER
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES
819-822-9600 x 2242