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First Nations, Inuit and Métis Languages Act

National First Nations, Inuit and Métis Languages Act

Mission	Preserving, promoting, and revitalizing First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages.
Subsidiaries	Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Métis Nation, Department of Canadian Heritage
Location	Canada
Website	https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/indigenous-languages-legislation.html

Formally known as the upcoming National First Nations, Inuit and Métis Languages Act, this is the most recent development in the attempt to produce a law on Indigenous languages in Canada. It is currently being co-developed by a number of organizations, including the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis Nation, and the Department Canadian Heritage. This law seeks to "reflect the distinct geographical, political, legislative and cultural context impacting language preservation, promotion and revitalization."

This law was first proposed in a letter to the Minister of Canadian Heritage at the end of 2015 after Justin Trudeau entered office. The commitment to carry through with this law was formally announced a year later, on the 6th of December 2016. The process began with collaboration between Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. They announced in 2017, the beginning of a process of collaboration with Indigenous communities, academics, and language experts to begin informing the drafting of the legislation.

The Government of Canada is in the process of drafting legislation on this area.

This is an issue central to the protection of indigenous culture and heritage, and it is recognized by the government of Canada that respecting and protecting indigenous languages is an important aspect of reconciliation.

"Our languages are central to our ceremonies, our relationships to our lands, the animals, to each other, our understandings, of our worlds, including the natural world, our stories and our laws."

The Consultation Process

There is great care being put into the process of consultation to ensure that agreed upon commitments to advancing the ways in which the nation-to-nation relationship between the Crown and First Nations are approached in the legislative process. In doing so, proper consideration is given to the recommendations of key documents, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In doing so, the Department of Canadian Heritage has partnered with important and influential organizations which represent Indigenous groups in Canada. thumb|Emblem of the Assembly of First Nations, which is playing a major role in the consultative process. The consultation process began with advanced consultations which were facilitated by the Department of Canadian Heritage The Assembly of First Nations held their consultations in the format of "engagement sessions" all over Canada from June to October of 2017. From June to September 2018, the federal government held the "national intensive engagement" on the legislation.

It is hoped that this bill will be passed through parliament in 2018, and will receive royal assent by 2019.

Status of Indigenous Language Education

There are a limited number of indigenous language programs across all facets of Canadian education, from primary to tertiary systems. The conversation surrounding the current status of education programs in indigenous languages has increased since the initial announcement of this legislation, and throughout the consultation process.

The government of Canada provides an incomplete directory of resources, which includes online learning resources, teaching resources, and a list of education and training programs which are listed in this section.

Higher Education

There are a number of Universities and other institutions of higher education that have programs and classes on indigenous languages. The majority of these programs are found in central and western Canada. The University of Alberta offers courses through its Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI). This institute was originally a collaboration between activist scholars at the University of Alberta and the University of Saskatchewan, and has offered a large number of innovative programs to promote the learning of indigenous languages in Canada, notably it's annual immersion summer program in Cree.

University of Manitoba, administration building.

There are a number of Universities that offer education in this field: the University of Saskatchewan offers a Certificate in Indigenous Languages, the University of Manitoba offers a Minor in Native Languages (Cree and Ojibway). In the east, Laurentian University in Ontario has an undergraduate program in Indigenous Studies, and McGill University also has an Indigenous Studies Program in Quebec. The University of Quebec at Chicoutimi offers programs taught in French through the Nikanite First Nations Centre, which Additionally, Athabasca University offers introductory language courses in Cree.

Inuktitut (ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ) alphabet.

Outside of universities, there are a number of programs in place. These include, inter alia, the Aboriginal Language Revitalization Program and the Inuktitut Dialect Interpreter-Translator Program at the Nunavut Arctic College, the Mi'kmaq Language Program through the Native Council of Nova Scotia, and the Indigenous Language Program at the First Peoples' Cultural Council in British Columbia.

History of Indigenous Language Protection

This legislation comes after a UNESCO report revealed that over 90 of Canada's indigenous languages (two thirds) are deemed to be "endangered," and the rest of them are deemed to be "vulnerable," meaning that none of them are considered to be safe. This is not a stagnant problem, as the numbers of indigenous Canadians that speak indigenous languages is decreasing rapidly, from 21% in 2006 to only 17% in 2017, although these statistics do vary between different groups, with over half of the Inuit population being able to converse, the numbers for First Nations and Métis are very low.

Key Documents on the Protection of Indigenous Languages in Canada

Date	Document
1996	Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
1998	Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan and Statement of Reconciliation
2003	UN Ad Hoc Expert Group on Endangered Languages
2005	Foundational Report for a Strategy to Revitalize First Nation, Inuit and Metis Languages
2008	Statement of Apology to Former Students of Indian Residential Schools
2015	Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
2017	Canada Becomes a Full Supporter of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples