Multiple Voices is a text which aims to express important founding principles of autochthony in Quebec. It was written by several Aboriginal writers, who were inspired by accounts from members of each of the Aboriginal nations of Quebec, collected between 2010 and 2012 by La Boîte Rouge vif. This website includes this text in French, English and most of the Aboriginal languages of Quebec1.
Unfortunately, several Aboriginal languages are in a state of devitalization, in great danger of disappearance. This project represents one of many efforts to revitalize Aboriginal languages in Quebec. The resources working in the communities, and who have collaborated with us in this project, do not all have the sufficient tools for translation much as they would have liked. Often, certain words are lost, often attached to a way of life that evolves, is transformed.
Translation represents a process of transposing the meaning of a text through another language, another pattern of thought. The challenges Aboriginal translators must face and the strategies they have implemented to express this text in their own words are presented. These comments also seek to provide clarification for a better and more accurate distinction of the different cultural realities in Quebec2. This information is presented as a supplement to the text3 and provides a more nuanced understanding of Aboriginal ways of thinking and worldviews. Through these supplements, the translators address themselves personally to the reader, and can not claim to express themselves in the name of a nation, a culture. We thank them for sharing their experience, and hope that you will appreciate it.
The text, in different languages, is available in written and oral form. When the reading of the text is activated, a synchronization tool will facilitate a location finder in the written version.
- [1] It should be noted that the project unfortunately did not include Maliseet and Wendat nations. A very limited number of expert translation resources for these nations as well as the unavailability of these resources within the timeframe of this project explain this regrettable absence.
- [2] Several authors of this collection of texts come from the Innu nation, which rendered an apparent tone to the remarks; all of the translators who participated in this project did not identify in the same proportion. The project also intending to allow nations to positon themselves in relation to this text, presented as additional information for each chapter.
- [3] In the consultation of the corresponding French/English texts and those in Aboriginal language, the orange coloured words in the French/English text are clickable and allow for the consultation of additional information.