Languages in self-governing First Nation communities are critically endangered, it’s time to act

Work cannot wait until the economy improves or inflation is under control—by then, many more speakers will have been lost. If Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples is truly its most important, then now is the time to provide support for the hard work we’ve done, to follow through on words with action.

For Indigenous peoples, revitalizing our languages is one of the most critical elements of self-determination and healing. Our languages are at the heart of our cultures and identities, and the process of learning language is fundamental to building well-being and community. As self-governing First Nations, this is our most urgent area of work as we watch the number of fluent speakers decline year after year. We know what work needs to be done, and we need the resources required to do it effectively. 

READ THE FULL STORY: JL_HILL_TIMES_ENDANGERED_LANGUAGE.pdf