New funding from the Manitoba government will help bring more American Sign Language (ASL) training opportunities to the province. Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine made the announcement on Tuesday, saying the province is giving $146,000 for improved ASL education for Indigenous women. This includes $128,000 over three years to fund four seats for Indigenous women in RRC Polytech’s ASL-English interpretation program and $18,000 for the development of three micro credentials providing on-reserve ASL education. “This investment will help ensure that Indigenous, deaf and hard of hearing individuals are able to connect with their communities, access services, participate in cultural and community events, and feel welcomed and included in all aspects of community life,” Fontaine said at a news conference on Tuesday. “This initiative recognizes that language access and inclusion matter and that communities themselves are best positioned to support their members when they are provided with the tools, training and opportunities to do so.” The province explained the ASL micro credentials will serve as the equivalent to ASL 1 -- one of the pre-requisite courses for entry into RRC Polytech’s ASL-English interpretation program. The micro credentials will be offered within communities and will accommodate up to 15 people per cohort. “Our government is committed to building stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone can participate fully and where barriers to access are actively addressed,” Fontaine said. The provincial funding will be provided through its “Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag: All Women Doing Well” strategy – a $20 million initiative focused on the empowerment of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse people.
