What we Heard Report: Consultations on the Implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act — November 13, 2020 — Nunatsiavut

Context

The Government of Canada is undertaking a variety of consultation activities across Canada on the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act, with a focus on the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages and Directors and the Indigenous Languages Funding Model.

These consultation sessions will help the Minister of Canadian Heritage make recommendations to the Governor in Council for the appointment of a Commissioner of Indigenous Languages and up to three Directors. Feedback from these sessions will also inform the development of the Indigenous Languages Funding Model.

For further details and information about the Indigenous Languages Act and current consultations, we invite you to read our Discussion guide: Consultations and Engagement on the Implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act.

A summary of the most recent consultation session is provided below. The summary is not a complete account of the discussions. Instead, it highlights the key themes that emerged from this consultation session. Please visit the online consultation portal and review the discussion guide to share your own and/or additional views.

Participants’ Overall Comments and Suggestions

Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages

The following considerations and themes were raised during the discussion on the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages:

Roles and Responsibilities:

While much of the discussion during this session focused on funding approaches going forward, participants did share that it will be important to rotate representation between the distinctions-based groups for the position of Commissioner of Indigenous Languages.

Indigenous Languages Funding Model

The following considerations and themes were raised during the discussion on the proposed Indigenous Languages Funding Model:

Language Vitality and Governance Capacity:

According to participants, the Indigenous Languages Funding Model should:

• Reflect a per capita distribution, with adjustments made based on needs; and
• Provide funding that is adequate to reach the desired results.

What to Fund:

Participants thought that the funding model should be flexible enough to support a variety of initiatives, including:

• Efforts that focus on learning in the early years, but with supports in place to maintain proficiency at all ages;
• Mentor Apprenticeship Programs, language nests, early child care centres, resource development and the development of Indigenous languages learning technology;
• Teaching Indigenous languages in the context of on the land and on the water cultural teachings and traditions; and
• Focusing on compensating speakers, mostly Elders, for their efforts in passing down their languages.

Funding Process:

According to participants, the funding process should:

• Be structured in a way that flows funding through Fiscal Transfer Arrangements; and
• Flow funding to Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, who will then distribute to its regional organizations.

Defining and Measuring Success:

Participants thought that success would be hearing Indigenous languages in homes, and Indigenous People seeing the value and worth of their languages, and having a sense of pride in them.

Additional Comments

Participants shared that Indigenous people have been waiting a long time for this support and that their language is struggling, with many speakers being lost, and fewer younger speakers. Others highlighted the importance of Indigenous languages and situated the work involved in revitalizing languages in the context of reconciliation.