Dr. Irem Ayan, Assistant Professor of French at UBC’s Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (FHIS), describes a translation project in which students navigated the cultural and ethical dimensions that shape meaning itself.
“It is an honour to give French speakers the opportunity to learn more about the First Peoples of BC.”
UBC students helped translate Pacific Northwest Plant Knowledge Cards from English into French as part of “FREN 457: English-French Translation,” taught by Assistant Professor Irem Ayan. The project was developed in collaboration with the cards’ original authors—the Elders and Knowledge Keepers of the W̱SÁNEĆ community—facilitated by Dr. Diane Campeau, Visiting Lecturer (UBC LLED and University of Ottawa), with support from the Centre de la Francophonie de UBC.
The project allowed students to develop both ethical and technical skills: ethical, in terms of respecting and faithfully translating Indigenous worldviews; and technical, in terms of selecting and meticulously applying precise terminology.
“It was important to navigate between Western scientific worldviews and Indigenous epistemologies,” explains Dr. Irem Ayan. “This is important for achieving reconciliation—by ensuring that Indigenous knowledge is treated as a distinct and equal system rather than as subordinate to Western science.”
“It is important that Indigenous knowledge is treated as a distinct and equal system rather than as subordinate to Western science.”
“Botanical translation is a highly specialized field that presents unique difficulties,” she adds, “because it merges rigid scientific terminology with diverse cultural, regional, and descriptive language. It requires navigating complex nomenclature, adapting to different cultural uses of plants, and maintaining precision across different languages. Some of the information we translated was highly technical, and we conducted extensive research to ensure the use of correct and appropriate terminology.”
The translations will undergo a careful validation process led by Dr. Diane Campeau and her Education students, including retranslation from French into English to ensure cultural accuracy and respect for the knowledge shared. Final validation will involve W̱SÁNEĆ Elders and Knowledge Keepers, along with a representative from Strong Nations Publishing.
“It is an honour to give French speakers the opportunity to learn more about the First Peoples of BC,” says Dr. Ayan.
FREN 457 equips students with the strategies and tools to navigate complex linguistic and cultural differences in translation, while considering artistic, ethical, and political implications.
Students interested in pursuing translation further can also look forward to a forthcoming Certificate in French Translation. Designed around real-world applications, the certificate will prepare students for professional translation work while offering opportunities to contribute to meaningful, community-engaged projects. Stay tuned for more information about its launch.
