The birth of a language speaker – Canadian Geographic

May 05, 2025

In the first part of Canadian Geographic’s Discovery Language series, one Kanyen’kehá:ka family shares what it takes to raise a language speaker

In the hectic moments following labour, everything is hushed in the delivery room as Evin Kring begins speaking in Kanyen’kéha (the Mohawk language): “ó:nen kí:ken seksá:’a ahsatahónhsatat ne wahi tóhkara nikawén:nake,” instructing his newborn son, Elwin, only minutes into his life, to listen to the welcoming words in their language.

“The entire room went still and quiet. I just remember holding Elwin on my chest and Evin was saying the words, and just how emotional it was,” says Kring’s partner, Jessica Parks. “That we were able to take that time to welcome him Earthside within our culture and our language was something really important to us.”

Read More: https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/the-birth-of-a-language-speaker/