Editor's Note: Amos Keye is the station manager for CKRZ.

A Six Nations counsellor is advocating for more traditional language speakers across the community.

At Monday's political liaison meeting, Coun. Audrey Powless shared the lessons she learned last week at the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) Language and Education Forum, a three-day language and education conference she attended on behalf of the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC).

Powless explained that the conference's opening speaker was Amos Keye who spoke about the Evolution of Indigenous Languages Act and shared information regarding the history and language of the Ongweoweh (Six Nations). According to Powless, Keye says the best way for language to be learned was in the home, and that a community effort is needed to develop strong language speakers.

The topic stimulated enthusiastic comments from several other councillors, including Coun. Melba Thomas who suggested the need to have speakers in all SNEC departments.

Coun. Michelle Bomberry said more investment needs to take place in the Language Commission and also in all of the six community languages - Mohawk, Cayuga, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida and Tuscarora.

Lastly, Chief Mark Hill said the end goal is more speakers, regardless of the level, recognizing that everyone is on their own learning journey.  

Council then discussed a suggested amount of $2 million that could be invested towards language education annually, with the possibility of the Confederacy Council contributing an equal amount. However, no steps to initiate the investment was discussed at the meeting.

Listen to the report below.