Deadline: 14-Dec-23
The First Peoples’ Cultural Council is seeking expressions of interest for Language Technology Program to provide funding plus equipment and training to support language revitalization using technology.
The goal of the First Peoples’ Cultural Council Language Technology Program (LTP) is to administer funds to communities to develop and sustain cohesive language technology programming. The program currently offers three components: FirstVoices (Documentation), Digitization, and Development. Combining these three grant streams into one program allows them streamline administration, and better support communities in developing comprehensive technology strategies and programs within the broader context of their language revitalization work. All characteristics of these individual programs remain the same.
Components
- There are 3 components within the Language Technology Program:
- FirstVoices
- FirstVoices is an online tool that communities can use to document and share their language. When a community documents their language using FirstVoices.com, they create a resource that individuals can use to learn and interact with their language. This makes the language more accessible for language learners and speakers, both at home and for those living away from their community. The FirstVoices platform includes the Community Language Sites, Kids Portal, mobile keyboards for iOS and Android, and dictionary apps.
- FirstVoices.com was initially launched in 2003 to aid in the preservation of First Nations languages in B.C. It provides a platform for Indigenous community language teams to document their languages by recording and uploading words, phrases, songs, and stories to a database. FirstVoices.com currently hosts 58 public language sites (and many additional private languages sites) for languages spoken in BC and around the world. Content is entirely owned, controlled, and managed by the community that contributes it.
- Digitization
- Digitization is the process of converting analog and other non-digital formats (such as audio cassettes, reel to reel tapes, VHS tapes, text documents, phonics cards and more) to a digital format. To do this conversion, communities first gather and inventory the materials they would like to digitize, use specialized equipment to convert them to a digital format, and archive and create access to the digital materials (such as through FirstVoices). This allows communities to identify and preserve knowledge in their community for future generations. This is crucial because many non-digital formats and the tools needed to access the information therein are becoming obsolete. By digitizing these materials now, communities can ensure that this knowledge is transferred to a stable digital format for long-term preservation and safekeeping. Digitization supports language revitalization by creating access to knowledge through digital distribution.
- Development
- Eligible projects under the Development component are focused on producing unique and innovative digital tools for language documentation, teaching, learning, and revitalization. Eligible projects can also adapt existing code for unique language contexts. Online, offline, mobile apps, and software development are all eligible projects under this grant.
- The final product must:
- Have anticipated outcomes clearly tied to language revitalization
- Be open source and able to be adapted by other language communities (licensing is permitted)
- Be unique within the scope of existing tools (compare with past projects and open source tools)
- Acknowledge within the codebase or visibly on the app that funding for completion was provided by First Peoples’ Cultural Council, and is powered by FirstVoices
- Examples of eligible projects include:
- Custom dictionary apps
- Language learning games
- Language teaching tools
- Learning management tools
- Self-study tools
- Online language courses
- FirstVoices
Funding Information
- FirstVoices: The maximum amount available for a FirstVoices grant is $80,000.00, pending available funding.
- Digitization: The maximum amount available for a Digitization grant is $100,000.00, pending available funding.
- Development: The maximum amount available for a Development grant is $50,000.00, pending available funding.
Eligible Activities
- FirstVoices Component
- Collecting recordings of words, phrases, songs, or stories intended for upload to FirstVoices.com
- Editing audio and managing data storage
- Uploading words, phrases, songs, or stories to FirstVoices.com
- Managing your FirstVoices.com language site
- Digitization Component
- Collecting archival materials and preparing them for storage or access
- Completing an inventory of archival materials
- Cataloguing materials for long-term storage
- In-house or third-party digitization of analogue materials to modern accessible formats (please note: CD’s and DVDs are not eligible)
- Development Project
- In-house or contracted software or app development or in-house adaptation of existing code
- Knowledge transfers, capacity building, and team member training to support long-term development and maintenance of product
- Collecting recordings of words, phrases, songs, or stories intended for upload to FirstVoices.com to support the functionality of the product
- Uploading words, phrases, songs, or stories to FirstVoices.com to support the functionality of the product
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants
- First Nations Communities/Governments/Bands/Tribal Councils located in B.C.
- First Nations Cultural, Language and Education centres in B.C.
- Not-for-profit societies registered in B.C. that are in good standing and are governed by B.C. First Nations individuals (at least 75% of directors identify as B.C. First Nations)
- B.C. First Nations-led museums and cultural spaces (at least 75% of directors identify as B.C. First Nations)
- Urban and off-reserve B.C. First Nations organizations (at least 75% of directors identify as B.C. First Nations)
- Previous applicants may apply as long as all reporting on previous funding from FPHLCC/FPCC (all programs) or the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation (FPCF) is up to date
- Eligible Languages: Language Technology Program funding is available to support the revitalization of the 34 First Nations languages of British Columbia.
Ineligible
- Individual applicants
- Public institutions (e.g., schools, universities)
- Committees, groups, task forces without an established governing body
- Previous projects funded by FPCC/FPCF where applicants have not completed all the required reporting (including from Arts or Heritage programs)
For more information, visit First Peoples’ Cultural Council.
