What we Heard Report: Consultations on the Implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act — October 21, 2020 — Ontario
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:
Participants indicated that it was important that the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages:
- Build relationships and establish critical connections with communities and others working on Indigenous language revitalization;
- Take a bottom-up approach - be responsive to, and advocate for, communities and community-driven efforts; and
- Adopt a whole-of-government approach to Indigenous languages work.
Many participants confirmed that communities hold the language expertise, and stressed the importance of the Office working closely with communities on community language assessments and other efforts to revitalize Indigenous languages.
Plans and Priorities and Early Successes - Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages:
Many participants talked about the importance of focusing on:
- Pulling together the vast amount of existing research in this area, including cross-cutting research that shows, for example, that Indigenous languages is a social determinant of health;
- Establishing networks, perhaps by language group, to foster greater collaboration and sharing best practices and available resources; and
- Gathering information on the current state of Indigenous languages across the country and efforts underway in the area of Indigenous languages revitalization, especially at the community level.
Many participants had some concerns that four appointees to the Office may not be sufficient to represent all Nations, languages and language groups. Some participants suggested building additional representation into the Office’s structure, maybe on a Nation-by-Nation basis.
Selection of a Commissioner and Directors:
Participants proposed that appointees to the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages should be:
- Strong communicators;
- Well-versed and experienced in community-based Indigenous language revitalization work;
- Passionate about the work, and knowledgeable about the Indigenous languages landscape across the country; and
- Proficient in an Indigenous language.
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 some participants, the Indigenous Languages Funding Model should:
- Provide a baseline amount of funding to each community, with additional funding made available on a proposal basis to fund time-limited innovative projects; and
- Be formula driven, taking into account factors such as remoteness.
Participants also stated that the current funding is inadequate to meet the existing needs with respect to revitalizing Indigenous languages.
What to Fund:
According to participants, the funding model should be flexible and responsive to community-determined needs. Examples of the types of efforts that should receive funding under the new model include:
- Programming that focuses on supporting speakers – often Elders - and valuing their expertise;
- Initiatives targeted at the very young in the context of early childhood education;
- Increased use of Indigenous languages in the media, arts, podcasts and radio;
- Support for official language designation at the community level; and
- Language nests, some capital costs (for example, performing arts venues), hiring full-time dedicated staff, resource development and capacity building.
Many participants noted that Indigenous languages should permeate all areas of life, and that a cradle-to-grave approach at the community level will help to achieve that. Other participants noted that the model should prioritize the adequate funding of existing, successful programs.
Funding Process:
According to participants, the funding model should:
- Provide for multi-year, stable, core funding rather than proposal-based, competitive funding; and
- Flow funding for Indigenous language revitalization efforts directly to communities.
Some participants expressed frustration about the lack of responsiveness within the current funding process and suggested that the Department be more communicative with communities and more transparent in its process.
Defining and Measuring Success:
Participants expressed that Indigenous Peoples will define and measure success in the area of Indigenous languages revitalization. Examples of success could include children acquiring their languages from a very young age, and benefitting from learning multiple languages as children.
Additional Comments
Participants frequently mentioned that the needs around Indigenous languages revitalization are urgent. Others highlighted:
- The importance of integrating Indigenous ways of knowing and learning into this work;
- The critical link between the health of Indigenous languages and the wellness of Indigenous Peoples; and
- The contrast between resources available to support official languages rights, including institutional infrastructure, and the situation of Indigenous languages.
Participants expressed a desire to continue the dialogue that began today.
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