Blog Details

The Language Keepers and Language Policy Hackathon 2024 events held at the incredibly beautiful Native Women Association Centre (NWAC) in Ottawa on Wednesday, February 21st welcomed around 60 in-person and close to 200 online attendees.

The Language Keepers segment of the event focused on rejuvenating Indigenous languages and cultures with a purpose to forge linguistic ties with Indigenous knowledge bearers and to link them with other communities, especially newcomers. Moderated by Sarah Onyango, panelists Elaine Gold (Canadian Language Museum), Thea Harris (First People’s Cultural Council), Rebekah Ingram (Carleton University), and Laila Joud (613 Refugee), along with hosts Deanna Nemeth and Amal Dweik, engaged in stimulating discussions that highlighted our collective dedication and enhanced our comprehension of Indigenous languages’ vital role in safeguarding our common cultural identities. Each participant’s unique insights enriched the conversation.

• Policies around accessibility and inclusivity for marginalized communities and how we address language barriers in hospitals –  an “active language offer” – everyone in public service settings, hospitals in particular, across Canada actively gets asked what language they would like to be served in,

• Policies around Indigenous language revitalization and education, particularly for Indigenous youth – Call upon appropriate Ministries to fund and work with Indigenous communities to create opportunities to learn and preserve traditional languages,

• Policies around advocacy for official languages, with a focus on Ontario – particularly increasing the advocacy efforts for the wide-inclusion of French as one of Canada’s official languages. (conducted in French), and

• Policies around technology and leveraging generative AI in interpretation and translation for language support in public services.

Policy hackathons, including those focused on language policy, are collaborative events that address language-related challenges. They bring together a diverse group of technologists, linguists, policy-makers, and community advocates. The aim is to promote linguistic diversity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering innovation and developing solutions through interdisciplinary approaches. These events are a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange, exploring policy interventions to eliminate linguistic barriers and promote inclusivity. The interactive structure enhances stakeholder ownership and the effectiveness of policy implementation.

Technology is crucial in language policy hackathons, and in the future, we are planning to allocate more time for participants to connect with tools and platforms that boost linguistic accessibility and inclusivity. This includes machine translation algorithms and multilingual communication apps that simplify language services, bridge communication gaps, and support linguistically diverse communities. These tools act as catalysts, democratizing language access and promoting equal societal participation. Furthermore, language policy hackathons give marginalized communities a platform, empowering them to defend their linguistic rights and access to necessary services.

Generally speaking, language policy hackathons aim to build collaborative networks and partnerships that create innovation that lasts beyond the event (see: Hackathons as Instruments for Settlement Sector Innovation). They connect participants with agencies, non-profits, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders to expand their initiatives’ reach. These networks foster systemic change by sharing knowledge, mobilizing resources, and advocating collectively. They influence policy agendas and institutional practices to prioritize inclusive linguistic diversity. Hackathons also amplify the voices of marginalized communities, empowering them to advocate for language rights and access to vital services.