Preserving, Revitalizing, and Celebrating
DIVERSE LANGUAGES & CULTURAL IDENTITIES
WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
NVSS recognizes that language is at the heart of First Nations’ cultures and strives to preserve, revitalize, and celebrate Indigenous languages by promoting the use and education of community languages in each school speech program!
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Saskatchewan is home to the highest per capita Indigenous population and Indigenous peoples are the fastest growing demographic in Canada.
However, despite populations quickly growing, it is well known that the majority of Canada’s Indigenous languages are becoming endangered due to a rapid decline of fluent speakers from year to year.
According to UNESCO, 75 percent of Canada’s Indigenous languages are endangered, with some being only spoken by a handful of elders. And it is a downward trend. In 2016, 15.6 percent of Indigenous people in Canada affirmed that they could converse in an Indigenous language – a rapid decline from 21 percent in 2006 (Friedrich, 2021).
“When a language dies, a way of understanding the world dies with it.” – Steiner G.
How does NVSS account for Cultural-Linguistic Diversity?
NVSS recognizes that language is at the heart of First Nations’ cultures and strives to preserve, revitalize, and celebrate Indigenous languages by promoting the use and education of community languages in each school speech program!
Most Western tests have not been developed with Indigenous populations in mind. The absence (or minimal number) of Indigenous children represented in standardization samples compromises the validity and reliability of most assessment tools, leading to misdiagnosis of speech delays/disorders. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that appropriate measures be developed, and that service providers educate themselves about the language differences of each Indigenous population and community.
Our team at NVSS is committed to the on-going development of assessment and therapy materials accounting for (and celebrating) cultural-linguistic diversity. We understand that cultural-competency fosters a greater understanding of the needs of our students, and culturally-sensitive practices honor and support the communities in which we serve.
“Because language discloses cultural and historical meaning, the loss of language is a loss of that link to the past. Without a link to the past, people in a culture lose a sense of place, purpose and path; one must know where one came from to know where one is going.” - Lane Wallace.
GIVING BACK
When it comes to giving back to our communities, we don't just talk the talk... although, as speech therapists, we certainly do that, too!
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When it comes to giving back to our communities, we don't just talk the talk... although, as speech therapists, we certainly do that, too!
All translators involved in the creation of our language-inclusive materials and resources are financially compensated and recognized with gratitude for their willingness to share their knowledge of community languages and dialects with our team.
Educational Assistants interested in pursuing careers in speech pathology are provided with information about formal schooling options. At NVSS, we believe that we all rise higher when we uplift one another and recognize that inspiring and encouraging Indigenous individuals to pursue careers in speech pathology would greatly benefit our communities, province, and profession as a whole.
NVSS is devoted to nurturing a sense of community by supporting and promoting independent local businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs.
NVSS’s Apparel with a Purpose line is a non-profit initiative to give back to the people of our province. All proceeds go towards charities, fundraisers, and projects helping communities across Saskatchewan.
“A LANGUAGE IS AN EXACT REFLECTION OF THE CHARACTER & GROWTH OF ITS SPEAKERS.”
CESAR CHAVEZ
MEET OUR FOUNDER
Lisa Brillinger
Hello and welcome! I could not be more excited about the prospect of working together.
My name is Lisa and I am a prairie girl through and through. After completing schooling in the States, I returned home to open a practice in Saskatchewan - specifically tailored to serving remote communities with restricted access to in-person supports. I recognized the limitations, barriers, and inefficiencies of outdated service models when working with geographically-secluded communities, and set out on a mission to create a new framework of providing speech therapy to remote schools across the province. Northern Voices Speech Services was built from integrity, a genuine desire to serve, and a whole lot of heart! My vision to create a service model based on empowerment, collaboration, respect, skill-building, representative resources, and celebration of cultural-linguistic diversity has transcended into a passion project with the goal of supporting communities in greater and greater capacities. Our team looks forward to working hand-in-hand with educators, parents, and other professionals to promote a collaborative environment for schools, and to create a comprehensive support system for our students.
Committed to Serving Our Province
In 2022, Lisa achieved the Saskatchewan's Top 40 Under 40 award, celebrated for her contributions to the province through her company's innovative framework and inclusive, leading-edge service delivery model.
CBC MORNING RADIO WITH LISA BRILLINGER
CBC NEWS: FUTURE 40 WINNER LISA BRILLINGER
