Topic: 2024-Indigenous Languages
Country: Sierra Leone
Delegate Name: Evan Gagliardo
The erasure of indigenous languages is a huge problem all around the world. For example in Australia out of the 200-300 indigenous languages only 60 are considered unthreatened. It is said that up to 95 % of the world’s languages will be extinct by 2100. The native languages that are endangered are under-represented and are not being taught anymore. They are having to compete with larger languages, like English and not stacking up. Not only are they losing the battle of becoming mainstream, the indigenous that spoke these languages were widely wiped out by colonialism,(English was introduced to Africa by settlers and is the official language of many African countries including sierra leone). Because of this,their language and culture struggles to thrive. The tribe’s elders are dying/have died off, and the children are not being taught/are unable to be taught their language and traditions. These language’s ability to thrive is highly dependent on other factors such as the education system and indigenous peoples reclaiming their culture, as well as teaching it to others.
The United Nations has recently declared the “international decade of indigenous language” in 2022-2023. This was created to protect the rights to speak indigenous languages, which is crucial,but unfortunately does little to promote the spread of them to others. The 2030 “Agenda for Sustainable Development” aims to ensure equal access to education for all indigenous peoples. Both of these recent and future amendments are additions to the “United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Languages”. The forum was originally created to protect indigenous languages against threats, but the results were a mixed bag, positive awareness was spread but there was little to no language actually spread partially due to lack of funding and lack of actually taking initiative. Through protecting indigenous rights, giving them access to education, and trying to spread awareness, The UN is just beginning to remedy the disappearance of indigenous languages.
Given Sierra Leone’s many indigenous tribes Sierra Leone is starving for the erasion of indigenous languages to be stopped. In order to do this Sierra Leone has already made the teaching of Krio, Limba, Mende, Temne more prevalent by funding educational resources such as textbooks, and training the teachers in these languages. On the local level Speakers of the native language are being encouraged by the government to keep speaking and spread the language to others. In the UN general assembly, president Madda Bio has spoken up about diversifying the African voices in the UN.
Sierra Leone feels that the topic of indigenous language erasure must be addressed quickly. To address these issues Sierra Leone urges the UN to integrate native languages into school curriculums and making native culture more mainstream. Sierra Leone also urges for more diversity and representation for natives around the world.
