Reclaiming Our Languages with Neil Redcrow
May 27, 2026
Neil Redcrow presented Reclaiming Our Language to the IEA, members, partners, and affiliates. Drawing on his experience as a language teacher, he spoke about his family's history and shared his grandfather's story, focusing on language reclamation.
In initial discussions, Neil discussed the challenges editors often face when working with Indigenous-written content. Fact-checking and language can depend on where writers are based and where and when events took place, and language differs not only between tribes but also between families within tribes. Other planned topics included aspects of the Cree written language, such as spelling, context, and pronunciation, and helping editors feel comfortable engaging with Indigenous languages.
Neil Redcrow grew up around the Nêhiyawêwin language and began his dedicated language journey in 2014 when he started learning syllabics. Through study and mentorship with Elders, he developed the ability to understand spoken Nêhiyawêwin and converse with Elders. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nêhiyawêwin from Blue Quills University and has taught the language for seven years. Much of his learning has come from working with Elders, gaining fluency, storytelling knowledge, and spiritual insight connected to the language.
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Statement of Gratitude:
The lands we live on connect us to the stories of our past and those that will be told in the future-the stories upon which our profession is based. These lands sustain and nourish us, and our relationships with each other help us thrive. The Indigenous Editors Association gives thanks to the the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Peoples who continue to steward the lands on which our head office is located, in Vancouver, BC. It is in this spirit of gratitude that we carry out our work as Indigenous members of the publishing community.
