As journalists, most of us have been stumped on the proper pronunciation of a name, word or place during our reporting. If you get it wrong, it can be embarrassing – and in some cases, insulting. When it comes to telling Indigenous stories, getting it wrong also shows a lack of proper care. It is a journalist’s duty to ensure that they take the time and effort to ensure proper pronunciation of the names of sources and the communities centered within their stories.
As a First Nations person and a reporter, I know that pronunciation can be especially difficult for journalists that are reporting on Indigenous communities. This is not surprising because there are 133 First Nations in Ontario alone, and over 600 across Canada. An added challenge, communities that share a nation and a similar dialect may also have different pronunciations for the same name or word. So, here are a few tips to help you follow the best practices for pronunciation when reporting on First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
1: Consult with your sources
If you’re reporting on Indigenous communities, then you should have one or more sources from that community. If you are struggling with or unsure of a pronunciation regarding the name of the community or a source, then the first resource you should turn to is the individual or individuals that are featured in the story. However, it is common for there to be multiple spellings, meanings and pronunciations of words, phrases and names within the same Indigenous community and nation. Always use the one that is requested by the source.
2: Use online resources
There are also some online resources that can help you get it right, if for some reason you don’t have sources that can help you with pronunciation. Use resources that have been created by Indigenous communities or in collaboration with Indigenous community members. There is a resource on how to pronounce the names of the First Nations in Ontario. This list of phonetic spellings just includes the Nations, so if you are struggling with the pronunciation of the name of a specific community, reservations or a band within Ontario, it is best to check in with the community. There is also a resource that lists the pronunciations related to the Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, and a resource that includes a map accompanied by videos that can help people pronounce the names of Indigenous communities in Manitoba. These are only a few examples of the resources that are available.
3: Ask for help from someone from the community
If your sources are unable to help you, and there is no online resource available , you can ask for help from someone else who is in the community that you’re reporting on. Turning to the community for help with pronunciations is the best option when you are unsure, as they are the ones with the knowledge and understanding of their own Peoples.
If you choose to approach someone and ask for their knowledge or help, you can also ask them if they take a tobacco offering. If they say yes, you can offer them a bit of loose leaf traditional tobacco or a tobacco tie. If you are looking for tobacco to make an offering you can try to find an Indigenous owned store or business that sells tobacco. In Toronto, you can buy tobacco from the gift shop in the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.
A traditional tobacco offering is a sign of respect and appreciation for somebody sharing their knowledge with you. However, not every Indigenous nation or individual follows the practice of accepting tobacco offerings, that is why it is important to ask.
4: Make your own phonic legend that works for you
People read and pronounce words differently. That’s why you should make a resource that is specifically designed for you. If you’re struggling with the pronunciation of a word or using someone else’s phonetics, it may be helpful to cater to your own brain and approach to language. That way you don’t trip up on the pronunciation when it is time to report.
5: Practice reading your script or the word out loud
If you’re trying to learn how to pronounce a word and you keep getting stumped or tongue tied, one of the best ways to practice is to continue reading it out loud. Research shows that reading out loud helps you remember a word, because you are training your mouth and brain to remember the correct pronunciation. This is a great strategy to ensure you don’t get stumped on pronunciation during the reporting process.
6: Best practice if you screw up
So what do you do if you try your best and put a lot of care into trying to get the right pronunciation and you still screw it up? Well, first things first, be kind to yourself. Professionals can still make mistakes. But you can learn from your mistakes by acknowledging that you may need to work harder or try a different approach in the future.
If you mess up the pronunciation of a First Nation, Métis or Inuit community’s name, word or place, or the name of an Indigenous source, you also may want to send an apology and acknowledge the mistake. Accountability shows that you care.
