Indigenous language funding

AI summary

Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to provide fair, adequate, long-term funding for Indigenous language programming. The government responds it is implementing the Indigenous Languages Act and committed over $1B (2019–2029), including $119.4M ongoing.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled to the following: Whereas An essential part of reconciliation is addressing the harms First Nations have experienced including the devastating loss of language and culture; There is a growing number of Indigenous language learners, but the number of remaining fluent of remaining fluent speakers is falling; Changes to federal funding for Indigenous language programming have put the preservation and revitalization of First Nations' languages and cultural heritage at risk; and There is an urgent need to invest in Indigenous language revitalization before it is too late. Therefore, we, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada call upon the Government of Canada to commit to ensuring fair, adequate, long- term funding for Indigenous language programming.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages Signed by The Honourable Marc Miller The Government would like to thank the petitioners for expressing their desire for the Government of Canada to commit to fair, adequate, long-term funding for Indigenous language programming. The Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages acknowledges that Indigenous languages are fundamental to Indigenous identities, cultures, spirituality, and self-determination as well as relationships with the land and to the world. They tell stories, preserve cultures and traditions, and hold generations of families and communities together. The Government continues to work with Indigenous partners and organizations to implement the Indigenous Languages Act (the Act) which received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019. The overall objective of the Actis to support Indigenous Peoples in their efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen their languages. The Act also recognizes that the rights of Indigenous Peoples recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, include rights related to Indigenous languages. Since 2019, in support of the implementation of the Act, the Government of Canada has provided more than $1 billion from 2019-2020 to 2028-2029, with $119.4 million in ongoing funding to support the community-based efforts of Indigenous Peoples in reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining and strengthening their languages. In addition, the Department of Canadian Heritage has worked with Indigenous partners to develop and implement new distinctions-based funding models. This new approach moves away from an annual call for applications process led by Canadian Heritage to an approach that supports the unique needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis; increases Indigenous autonomy and control over funding decisions; and introduces long-term funding agreements to support their priorities and multi-year strategies. Preserving and strengthening Indigenous culture and identity is central to the work of reconciliation. The Government of Canada will continue to work collaboratively with Indigenous partners on the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act, including the establishment of measures that facilitate the provision of adequate, sustainable, and long-term funding for Indigenous languages.