Digital platforms are transforming how Indigenous languages are shared, learned, and preserved across Saskatchewan.
At the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre’s annual Language Keepers Conference, participants explored how online spaces are opening new doors for language champions.
Darlene Brander, president of the SICC, points to the evolution of teaching tools as a major driver for modern language retention.
“What we’ve noticed that has been evolving over the years is that the way that people use different tools and resources for language revitalization… the internet wasn’t such a big thing. So now it’s a pretty big thing,” Brander said.
The conference, which has run since 2006, brings together roughly 600 participants, youth, elders, and fluent speakers to celebrate all eight Indigenous languages of Saskatchewan, from all three Cree dialects to Dakota, Dene, and Saulteaux.
Brander emphasized the expanding reach of community leaders who utilize online platforms to connect with widespread audiences. She drew attention to Tuesday’s keynote speaker, Grandma Sherry.
Grandma Sherry runs a cooking show across social media platforms incorporating her Dakota language. She says she has over 260,000 followers on Tik Tok.
“Grandma Sherry isn’t your typical language revitalization influencer,” Brander noted. “She is from the community, and seeing her use social media for language revitalization has been really inspiring.”
(PHOTO: Grandma Sherry speaks at the 2026 SICC Indigenous Language Keepers Conference. Photo by Joel Willick)
Despite the rise of digital tools, Brander stresses that revitalization requires a multi-faceted approach rooted in community.
“You’ve got to be able to use all the tools you can, but there are some resources that you shouldn’t need to come back to. Yes, you can use technology, but you also have to also be talking with elders and your grandparents and your parents,” Brander said. “Because everybody has a role in language revitalization.”
The 2026 Language Keepers Conference will be running Tuesday and Wednesday in Saskatoon.