There are 34 aboriginal languages in BC. Â This is 70% of Canada’s total First People’s languages. Â National Geographic rates BC as a “hotspot” for language loss. Â A few communities are working hard to pass on language to the youth. Â However, most of BC’s 34 communities just have a few elders who still retain their original languages.
My idea is to photographically document a representative elder from each of these communities. Â I hope that by gathering this body of work, I will be able to bring awareness to language loss and how it affects all of us (i.e. homogeneity never works very well).
I have completed one full photo shoot of a local elder. Â I would share stories, show photos from that experience and discuss the work he is doing to pass on language/culture to youth. Â Some stories are funny, some are moving. Â How does their world intersect ours? Â What can we learn from the culture they pass on to youth versus what we are passing on to our youth? Â How can we connect?
Bio: Rob Jirucha holds an MA in Counseling Psychology.  I spent 15 years working with youth in counseling and outdoor-based settings.  I am a self-taught photographer and began Legacy by Photography this past year.  L by P is an effort to photograph seniors and elders in the settings and situations that define their character.
My photo-documentary work with aboriginal elders often captures elders and their efforts to pass on values and culture to youth. Â Given my past work with youth, I have some interesting observations to share about North American youth and Aboriginal youth.
A short video I put together of one local elder can be viewed at:
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