What we Heard Report: Consultations on the Implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act — November 24, 2020 — Yukon

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:

Many participants shared their concern that the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages may become another institution that is not likely to address the urgent needs in the area of Indigenous language revitalization, such as:

• Communities are losing fluent speakers;
• Many Indigenous languages are in a critical situation; and
• Indigenous languages need immediate action and support.

There was concern that the time, effort and resources devoted to creating the Office will detract from these needs.

Some participants also shared that many of the proposed tasks for the Office are duplicative of work already accomplished locally in Yukon (for example, research and planning). Participants nonetheless suggested that if the Office proceeds with any additional research, it should take into account available local and regional research, and the research should be community-led and respectful of ethics and First Nations principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP).

Plans and Priorities and Early Successes - Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages:

Some participants proposed that the Office could advocate for stronger recognition of Indigenous languages, such as first languages of Canada.

Selection of a Commissioner and Directors:

Participants suggested the following key characteristics for appointees to the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages:

• Indigenous, and fluent in an Indigenous language;
• Strong advocates and representatives for the communities, and chosen by communities; and
• Grounded in an Indigenous worldview, with a solid understanding of the need for healing in communities.

Participants also shared that appointments to the Office should be non-political.

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:

Participants raised a number of issues to consider during the development of an Indigenous Languages Funding Model, including:

• Current funding is not adequate to meet the needs;
• Funding needs to be sustainable;
• A population-based approach will not work for smaller communities – funding should instead be based on needs, and each language should be considered individually;
• Priority should be given to critically endangered languages; and
• Up-front funding for Indigenous language revitalization efforts should be significant, especially for those communities just starting up their work on languages.

Many participants compared the level of funding available for Indigenous language revitalization to what is available for French-language services, especially French-language education. Several participants pointed to the significant recent investments made in the construction of French-language schools in Yukon, and want to see similar investments for Indigenous languages.

What to Fund:

According to participants, a funding model should be flexible enough to support a range of activities including:

• Efforts to bring Indigenous languages back into the homes, and efforts that focus on working with Elders, fluent speakers and silent speakers to increase levels of fluency in others;
• The development and implementation of strategic language plans;
• Broadcasting – community radio in particular, documenting languages, research on best practices, and language houses; and
• Focusing on early years (Head Start and mother/baby programs), technological innovation, and better remuneration for people working on Indigenous language revitalization.

Many participants talked about the need for First Nation school systems and schools that deliver Indigenous language curriculum, while others spoke about the need for better connectivity infrastructure. Some participants noted there should be separate funding available for infrastructure needs in the area of Indigenous languages.

Participants stated that consultations on a national funding model are not required for self-governing First Nations, who are ready to negotiate now in the context of their self-government agreements and the direct relationship they have with the federal government.

Funding Process:

From the perspective of self-governing First Nations, funding mechanisms for Indigenous languages already exist in the form of Financial Transfer Agreements. Furthermore, many self-governing First Nations already have Indigenous language plans; the missing piece is funding to implement them.

For those First Nations that are not self-governing, feedback included the need for a simpler and more streamlined funding process (not proposal-based), and flexible multi-year funding.

Additional Comments

A recurring theme during the session was that time is of the essence when it comes to Indigenous languages, as many of them are struggling and their vitality is deteriorating. It was noted that most communities in the Yukon have less than five fluent speakers, and some participants said that they are working to recover languages rather than revitalizing them.

Participants shared that the Crown is responsible for the state of Indigenous languages through its cultural genocidal processes (such as residential schools), and that the effort made by government now to revitalize languages should reflect the effort made to destroy them. Some participants agreed that the Indigenous Languages Act is a step in the right direction, but much more work is required. There was agreement that First Nations have to take a lead role in this work, with some self-governing First Nations already having language legislation in place.

Participants proposed that the federal government come to the Collaborative Fiscal Policy table ready to discuss these matters, and engage in bilateral negotiations with self-governing Nations. Participants also requested full disclosure of all funding available across the federal government in support of Indigenous languages.

There was some discussion about the distinctions-based approach and suggestion that a government-to-government may be more inclusive of modern treaty Nations.

Finally, some participants invited Canada to learn more about Indigenous worldviews and reflected on the healing process often involved in learning Indigenous languages.