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Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport Minister Eric Robinson today officially welcomed five Navajo code talker elders and veterans, paying tribute to them for their military service and work on language preservation.

 

“It is a great privilege for me to welcome these code talkers to Manitoba,” said Robinson.  They have made great contributions serving their country and their people using their language and skills.  We hope to learn from their contributions and maintain the languages of indigenous people here in Manitoba.”

 

Robinson noted the code talkers highlight the significance of indigenous languages and are welcome guests at the Western Canada First Nations Education Administrators’ and First Nations Language Symposium being held in Winnipeg from tomorrow until Friday.

 

The Navajo code talkers were part of a special unit of the American Forces totalling more than 400. They specialized in communications, transmitting information using code created from words in their Navajo dialect during the Second World War.  Their complex and very unique dialect was extremely difficult to decipher.  The contributions of the Navajo people and their language played an integral role in communications during the war.

 

“As they did so many years ago, these code talkers will bring an important message highlighting language and heritage preservation,” said the minister.

 

More information on the symposium can be found at www.mfnerc.org.

 

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