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In celebration of International Mother Language Day, an event was held today at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Panatina Campus. The event also recognized the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022โ2032). It was organized by the Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group (SITAG) and co-hosted by SINU.The event also recognized the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022โ2032). It was organized by the Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group (SITAG) and co-hosted by SINU.
The program was attended by the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), Hon. Tozen Leokana, Permanent Secretary Dr. Franco Rodie, SIL Global Executive Director Dr. Michel Kenmogne, SINU staff and students, representatives from the San Isidro Care Centre, MEHRD representatives, and members of the general public.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Kenmogne, who holds a PhD in Linguistics and is a minority language speaker from Cameroon. The program featured stories about languages in the Solomon Islands, the Pacific, and globally.
The event began today at 10:00 am at the SINU Panatina Pavilion, where displays and interactive language-related activities were available for students, faculty, and the public. In the afternoon, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm, a formal program was held at the SINU FEH Lecture Theatre.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor Corporate Dr. William Parairato welcomed guests and attendees. He highlighted the significance of the theme “Boldly Taking Our Language into the Future”, emphasizing that languages are a vital part of identity and culture.
“For many of us, our mother tongue is the most important part of our lives, enabling us to communicate with family, relatives, and our communities. It is an essential part of our daily interactions with people and the environment. On behalf of the University, I would like to thank the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities, Dr. Patricia, and her team for collaborating with our stakeholder, especially the Indigenous language teams, on this important occasion.
I also extend a warm welcome to all our stakeholders who are part of this celebration. As a critical partner in initiatives like todayโs event, the University plays a key role in the conservation, maintenance, and support of efforts to preserve our languages for the future. We assure you that we will continue to collaborate and promote partnerships that align with the Universityโs vision for the protection and promotion of our diverse mother tongues.”
Dr. Parairato also acknowledged the commitment of the organizing team in ensuring the success of the event and for their efforts in maintaining and preserving different languages.
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