OTTAWA, February 16, 2007 – On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, met with the Honourable Dennis Fentie, Premier of the Yukon Territory last week to announce the signing of the 2006–2007 Canada–Yukon Cooperation Agreement for Aboriginal Languages.
This agreement includes federal funding of $1.1 million that will be transferred to the Government of Yukon for the administration of the Territorial Accord, the management of the Aboriginal Languages Community Initiative Program, and the distribution of community-based funding for Aboriginal languages.
“Canada’s New Government supports the preservation, revitalization, and promotion of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis languages,” said Minister Oda. “This funding will help protect the Yukon’s Aboriginal languages, and will allow Aboriginal communities to meet their language needs.”
“We are proud to partner with the Government of Yukon, which has a strong commitment to revitalize its Aboriginal languages,” said Minister Prentice.
“It is an honour to renew this agreement, as it represents support to further preserve Yukon First Nations’ traditional languages, legends, and cultural knowledge,” said Premier Fentie. “This funding will enable us to continue supporting our community-based language projects that have helped enhance and promote the Aboriginal languages of Yukon.”
Support delivered through the Territorial Language Agreement will allow the Yukon Territory's 14 First Nations to develop activities encouraging the use of their languages in community, home, and everyday settings. This type of community-based intervention is essential, allowing not only for the revitalization of First Nations languages, but also for the preservation of traditional knowledge and practices, the interaction of youth and Elders, and the continuation of a rich cultural heritage which is embodied in the Aboriginal languages of the Yukon Territory.
Territorial Language Accords support the preservation, revitalization, and promotion of First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages and cultures. Through these agreements, Canadian Heritage provides funding to the Governments of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon to develop and implement plans and projects in support of the preservation, development, and enhancement of Aboriginal languages at the community level.
Information:
Véronique Bruneau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Status of Women
819 997-7788
Deirdra McCracken
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
819 997-0002
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
Patch Groenewegen
Communications Analyst
Executive Council Office
Government of Yukon
867 667-8968
