Topic: 2024-Indigenous Languages
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Ava Nguyen
Indigenous languages are a crucial element of Canada’s cultural identity as it strives to keep the culture and history of Indigenous people alive and celebrated as Indigenous languages played a significant part in the establishment of relations between Europeans and Indigenous people, and contributes to the diversity and richness of the linguistic and cultural heritage of Canada. More than 1.8 million Indigenous people make up the population, but only about 13.1% of the population reported being able to speak Indigenous languages. As of 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) considers all Indigenous languages in Canada at risk of endangerment due to assimilationist government policies and actions. The loss of languages results in the loss of culture, history, heritage, and identities of the country’s foundations.
The delegation of Canada recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples, affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 which includes the rights related to indigenous languages. The Constitution Act recognizes Indian, Inuit, and Métis as all Aboriginal, with existing rights that are based on the continued occupation of lands by Aboriginal peoples since before European settlement. This act provided protection to Indigenous citizens’ cultural heritage by preserving their language. Additionally, the Indigenous Language Act was passed in 2019, proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations as the International Year of Indigenous Languages to draw attention to the critical loss of Indigenous languages and the urgent need to maintain, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages. Since 2019, the Government of Canada has invested $608.7 million in ongoing funding to support the implementation of the Indigenous Language Act. This Act has supported the Indigenous population of Canada, assuring the preservation of language and cultural heritage. The Government of Canada is committed to providing adequate and sustainable funding to maintain Indigenous languages. The Assembly of First Nations receives primary funding from the The Department of Canadian Heritage’s (DCH) Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program (ILCP) to develop language plans, and support project-based language revitalization funding outside of schools.
The Dominion of Canada encourages the United Nations to fund, preserve, and implement Indigenous languages programs including education systems for Indigenous people, Indigenous-language media and lifelong learning of Indigenous languages in order to restore and maintain the fluency of those languages. Countries should join initiatives such as The Language Conservancy which works to revitalize language, in which Canada is willing to assist other nations with funds to support the cause of restoring Indigenous languages
