Anotc nehirowimowin. The Atikamekw Language Today: Attitudes and Identity
This paper presents the results of a survey conducted in 2014 among the Atikamekw population about their abilities and attitudes regarding their mother tongue. The Atikamekw language is one of the last Indigenous languages to still be transmitted as a first language to children. This study deals with three major themes, all of crucial interest to the Atikamekw nation: the importance of their language, the preservation and transmission of their language, and the Atikamekw language as a founding element of their nation and identity. Our analyses are based on multivariate statistics and highlight the differences between generations, including proficiency, daily usage of the Atikamekw language and its present and future roles. Despite an undisputable vitality, the Atikamekw language is starting to face a decline in intergenerational transmission, which could however be mitigated by adequate support and resources.