Kevin Borserio of Daajing Giids has been honoured with the British Columbia Reconciliation Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership in advancing reconciliation.
Borserio has spent more than two decades attempting to preserve and revitalize the Haida language. Borserio served as coordinator of the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program (SHIP) leading it from a small local program to a nationally and internationally recognized model for Indigenous language renewal.
Until 1998, there was no regular immersion program for Haida. Thanks to Borserio’s leadership and collaboration with Haida elders, SHIP was able to document, teach and preserve the Haida language.
Borserio received the British Columbia Reconciliation Award from the lieutenant governor in recognition of his commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action 13-17, which emphasize protecting Indigenous languages to promote reconciliation.
