Witnesses testifying at a parliamentary committee said that if the federal government is serious about revitalizing Indigenous languages, it must provide better funding.
Several speakers appeared today before representatives of the House of Commons Indigenous and northern affairs committee, which is studying the issue.
Blaire Gould, executive director of a group that promotes the Mi’kmaw language in Nova Scotia, says that while its funding situation has improved, “it does leave languages behind.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made revitalizing Indigenous languages one of his priorities when it comes to advancing reconciliation.
In 2019, his Liberal government passed legislation meant to do that, but advocates have criticized it for falling short of providing the protections needed to ensure all languages are kept alive.
Gerry Guillet, a director of education in northern Saskatchewan, told MPs “sustainable” funding is needed, saying he was recently informed that a request for money to fund language-related programming in his region had been denied.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2022.
