Indigenous Languages Act in various indigenous languages
The Indigenous Languages Act aims to support Indigenous peoples in their efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen their languages. The Act establishes measures for the recognition, preservation, and promotion of Indigenous languages across Canada.
It addresses the Calls to Action 13, 14, and 15 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Key Features of the Act:
On June 21, 2019, the Indigenous Languages Act received Royal Assent and sets out a number of purposes and mechanisms, including:
- creating an Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages
- establishing measures to facilitate the provision of adequate, sustainable and long-term funding for the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of Indigenous languages
- facilitating meaningful opportunities for Indigenous governments and other Indigenous governing bodies and Indigenous organizations to collaborate in policy development related to the implementation of this Act
- enabling federal institutions to provide access to services in Indigenous languages where capacity and demand exists, and enabling the development of regulations to support this
- facilitating cooperation between Indigenous governments, other Indigenous governing bodies and Indigenous organizations and provincial and territorial governments
- promoting the use of Indigenous languages, including Indigenous sign languages
- requiring parliamentary reviews every 3 years and independent reviews every 5 years
A Joint Implementation Steering Committee has been created for the purpose of working together on the implementation of the Act. The committee is made up of representatives of the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council and Canadian Heritage. In addition, the Department works with a variety of national and regional Indigenous organizations representing First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Self-Governing Indigenous Governments and urban and multi-distinction Indigenous organizations.
Consult the Indigenous Language Act
The Indigenous Languages Act is available in both official languages:
Consult the Indigenous Languages Act in various Indigenous languages:
The translations of the Indigenous Languages Act into Indigenous languages made available on this site are for informational purposes only and are not official versions of the Act. The official, legally authoritative versions are in English and French and may contain amendments not reflected in these translations.