A Guide to An Act respecting Indigenous Languages

A Guide to An Act respecting Indigenous Languages: A Tool for First Nations Language Revitalization Roger Jones & Miranda Huron June 20, 2019, Slide 1

Overview • Introduction Section 1 – Background • Context • Co-development Section 2 – What does the Act mean for you? • Purpose of the Act • Language rights • Commitment to funding • Engagement and consultation • Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages • Agreements and arrangements Section 3 – Your role • Leading your own initiatives • Regional, national and urban considerations • Getting started June 20, 2019, Slide 2

Introduction Who is this Guide for? • First Nations rights holders, language experts and language entities (organizations) looking to start or build on existing Indigenous-led language revitalization activities. • Activities can be at the community, regional and/or national level, including multijurisdictional partnerships. Purpose of the Guide • Learn how to use the federal Indigenous language legislation (Bill C-91) to support your efforts to reclaim, revitalize, preserve and strengthen First Nations languages. June 20, 2019, Slide 3

Section 1 – Background Context • • • Over generations, assimilative policies and practices have had a significant impact on language loss and the disruption of the intergenerational transmission of First Nations languages and cultures. First Nations languages are integral to our sense of self and a key aspect of selfdetermination. There is a critical urgency to develop fluency in First Nations languages. June 20, 2019, Slide 4

Why is legislation important for First Nations? • • Affirms Indigenous Languages as constitutional section 35 rights Acknowledges harms committed by governments on languages and cultures due to assimilationist laws and policies Provides a commitment to adequate, sustainable and long-term funding for languages revitalization Establishes an Indigenous Languages Commissioner Office June 20, 2019, Slide 5

Co-development • The Process will continue – – • Generally, an Act sets out the broad legal and policy principles. Regulations and policies provide the details on how the intentions of the Act are implemented. This means there are further opportunities to influence the way the Act is implemented through ongoing co-development, including: – – – – Addressing funding needs and processes; Developing the regulations; Establishing the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages; Strategies to accommodate various disabilities; Federal services in Indigenous languages through translation and interpretation; Identifying whole of government legislation, policies, programs and services that impact or are impacted by the Act; Developing an approach for multi-governmental support; and Addressing annual reporting and legislative review requirements. June 20, 2019, Slide 6

Section 2 – What does the Act mean for you? Purpose of the Act • Learn how to use the federal Indigenous language legislation (Bill C-91) to support your efforts to reclaim, revitalize, preserve and strengthen First Nations languages. Language rights • • Indigenous language rights are inherent, Treaty, constitutional, and international human rights. The Act affirms these language rights in federal legislation and will require the protection, enforcement and implementation of these rights. Languages are a key requirement for the right to self-determination, as upheld in the UN Declaration – the affirmation and recognition of language rights in the Act further supports the development of local language laws and policies. June 20, 2019, Slide 7

Commitment to funding • • The development of language revitalization activities are not dependent on the Act, but the legislation should make it easier to create long-term, comprehensive, and multifaceted language plans by providing adequate, sustainable, and long-term funding. These plans can better reflect a First Nations vision of language reclamation, revitalization, maintenance, and strengthening with an aim to restoring fluency. Engagement and consultation • The Act makes it easier to pinpoint government responsibilities and creates requirements for periodic government consultation with Indigenous peoples on a number of issues, including: – funding; – establishing the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages; – developing distinctions-based regulations; and – an independent three-year review. June 20, 2019, Slide 8

Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages • • • An independent, arms-length entity that is mandated to support rights holders and Indigenous-led language organizations in their efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen ancestral languages. The Commissioner, and (up to) three Directors, must be appointed in consultation with Indigenous governments, governing bodies, and entities. You can: – make complaints to the Commissioner about government compliance in implementing the Act, including funding; – share your views about the implementation of the Act for the preparation of the Commissioner’s annual report; – request assistance from the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages for development of your language plan; and – request research and studies as related to First Nations languages. June 20, 2019, Slide 9

Agreements and arrangements • The Act anticipates the facilitation of effective and efficient inter-governmental coordination and support for Indigenous languages. • The most significant impacts will likely be in education, including curriculum development and accreditation, among other areas. • You may choose to formally cooperate with any level of government in your language work – including Indigenous governments or governing bodies, provincial, territorial, and federal governments – or Indigenous organizations. June 20, 2019, Slide 10

Section 3 – Your Role Leading your own initiatives • • Bold actions based in communities are needed to offset the trend of First Nations language loss and to advance the rights, needs and interests of Indigenous peoples as related to language. These actions can start at the community level and could, where desired, grow into a broader strategy. Ideas include: – – – finding out if there is a national or regional entity/organization that provides support or funding to your community; developing a critical mass; developing a language plan; building capacity; finding out the languages needs (language assessment/environmental scan); and developing your own local language legislation or policies. June 20, 2019, Slide 11

Regional Considerations • • Indigenous-led language entities already exist and are ready to provide their support to the local community needs and initiatives. Some of these entities do or can work at a regional level, coordinating or delivering language programs and/or support for local initiatives. If you notice there is a gap and no regional-level organization exists in your area, consider starting conversations across communities in your region about whether or not there is the desire/need to establish such an organization or organizations. If you reach out to existing regional organizations, they may still be able to provide you with useful resources and tools. June 20, 2019, Slide 12

National and Urban Considerations • Existing regional and national service organizations can play an important role in ensuring First Nations living in urban areas have access to language and culture programming, such as landbased and water-based teaching and learning methods and activities. Getting Started… Brainstorm and initiate the work at the community level • Helping to develop a realistic path forward. Language plans • Determining goals, the state of your language, your needs, developing a plan, identifying existing resources (including capacity), and establishing evaluation methods. June 20, 2019, Slide 13

Building capacity Useful steps to consider in building capacity and getting necessary information to implement your plan include: • Gaining support from your community – start a language gathering or meeting. • Creating a language committee. • Securing funding. • Developing an accessible resource database – find out what language resources already exist. • Meeting and building partnerships with language experts and speakers in your community or region. • Getting help from language experts to document the language and/or to develop your plans or learning materials. • Considering training opportunities, including for teachers. • Using and encouraging others to use the language more (incorporate into daily life). • Keeping the language alive through policies, laws, cultural activities, and long-term planning June 20, 2019, Slide 14

Language assessments/evaluations Useful in determining the state of the language(s) (current and over time). Think of this as a deep-dive environmental scan: • How many speakers? Between what ages? How old are the youngest speakers? • Are speakers and/or second language learners able to get together easily? • Is there community support? What resources do you have in your community? • Is there existing research to draw on? • Is the language documented? • Are there any trained teachers? • Are there any university courses in the language? Are they easily accessible? • Do you need equipment/space? • If not, what is needed? Do you have dictionaries? Curriculum? A group of Elders? Classes or courses? Laws or policies in your government? June 20, 2019, Slide 15

Language legislation and/or policies Consider developing language legislation and/or policies within your community(ies) or organization by: • determining your capacity to develop a law or policy: Is there a language committee or group devoted to revitalization? Is it possible at this stage to conduct business in the language? ; • considering your existing capacity and how the law or policy can help you reach your goals and long-term vision for the language; • considering how the law or policy strengthens the implementation of a language plan – the aim to keep the language alive; and • developing a language policy statement, including: mission, goals, declaring the language(s) the official language of the community or organization, setting out authorities, and other statements considered important, e. g. specific language activities or an implementation plan, among others. June 20, 2019, Slide 16

Questions June 20, 2019, Slide 17