No culture is static and mine is not only terminal, but in palliative care.
I am a member of a very small ethnic group and one of the youngest members to grow up still speaking the language. Â As a group we were expelled from our home in 1939. Â The generations born since the war are being assimilated into Germany and Canada and only hold onto to fading memories of a 700 year history.
Ever since I was young, I have spoken to my elders about our past. Â I now have the front row seat for the death of a language and a culture.
Will I have anyone interested in hearing about one more small obscure culture that is terminal? Or is it time to pull the plug?
Bio: Bernard von Schulmann is a 46 year old resident of Victoria of Baltic German descent.  I was born in Vancouver but I was sent off to school not being able to speak any language other than Baltic German.
I am also many other things, but they are not what this talk is about.
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