What we Heard Report: Consultations on the Implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act — October 5, 2020 — Alberta

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 commissionner 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 raised a number of considerations for the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, including the need to:

• Recognize the critical situation of Indigenous languages and that communities know what needs to be done and are already working effectively on language revitalization;
• Work with other federal departments and provinces, especially as it relates to education; and
• Ensure representation for all areas of the country and operate from a holistic, Indigenous perspective.

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

The discussion on key plans and priorities and early successes highlighted a number of suggestions, including:

• Gathering information on community needs by visiting land-based language programs, participating in ceremonies and conducting a national survey to determine the state of Indigenous languages across the country;
• Establishing mechanisms for the sharing of information and best practices in the area of Indigenous language revitalization;
• Making use of existing research on Indigenous languages rather than reinventing the wheel; and
• Promoting the importance of Indigenous languages as an early focus.

Selection of a Commissioner and Directors:

Key proposed characteristics of the Commissioner and Directors included:

• Lived experience at the community level;
• Significant experience in Indigenous languages revitalization work; and
• Comprehension that Indigenous languages contain Indigenous knowledge and culture, and embody a way of life.

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:

• Both language vitality and governance capacity are important in the development of a funding model, and languages that are critically endangered should be prioritized;
• Nations that had experiences with residential schools ought to be prioritized;
• Funding should be based on population, taking into account urban populations; and
• Distribution of funding should be transparent, fair and equitable.

Many participants expressed that funding for Indigenous languages revitalization should reflect the amount of time and resources expended by the government through systems, policies and programs that took the languages away in the first place.

What to Fund:

According to participants, a range of efforts ought to receive support, including:

• Exposing children to the sounds as early as possible in life;
• Bolstering immersion and university programs; and
• Normalizing the use of Indigenous languages inside and outside communities.

Many participants raised the need to prioritize and properly fund work that is already underway at the community level and to acknowledge, value and integrate the contributions of Elders throughout.

Funding Process:

The discussion on funding process highlighted the need for core, long-term funding and flexible funding in recognition that Indigenous languages are in various states and that work to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen them may look different from one community to another. Many participants stated that funding should go directly to Nations.

Defining and Measuring Success:

Some participants considered that success will include increased trust between Indigenous communities and government on the work that needs to be undertaken with respect to Indigenous languages revitalization.

Additional comments

Participants made a number of other contextual comments, including:

• Indigenous languages belong to Nations;
• Work to revitalize Indigenous languages must be undertaken while reviving traditional Indigenous ways of learning and knowing;
• Efforts fit into a broader context of respecting treaty promises and the need for a new fiscal relationship; and
• Indigenous languages are connected to spirit and land. There is grief involved in language loss, much of which occurred as a result of the residential schools system. The work of revitalization must be placed in the context of healing.