Inuit leaders want “substantive” national Indigenous languages law

As the International Year of Indigenous Languages received recognition at the United Nations this past Feb. 1, Canadian Inuit leaders called on the federal government to create a national Indigenous languages law that is “substantive” and not merely symbolic.

“There is so much positive work being done, but we can’t do it alone and we expect governments, and our public services, to respond with strong measures in support of Indigenous languages, beyond symbolic gestures,” the statement said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised in December 2016 that his government would create a national Indigenous Languages Act, “co-developed” with Indigenous peoples.

Since then, ITK, the Métis National Council and the Assembly of First Nations have been immersed in talks and consultations on the proposed act with the Department of Canadian Heritage.

But so far, no federal Indigenous languages bill has materialized, though Ottawa, in its 2017 budget, did promise to spend $89.9 million over three years on Indigenous languages and cultures.

Montreal MP Pablo Rodriguez is now the minister responsible for that department.

In a bland statement, also released Feb. 1, Rodriguez didn’t say when the Liberal government would introduce the legislation, but he did say that doing so will be an important gesture.

“The legislation is a historic step toward the healing and rebuilding of Indigenous identities, pride and communities across Canada,” Rodriguez said.

In their statement last Friday, the Inuit leaders insisted that federal Indigenous languages legislation must contain provisions that are specific to Inuit.

“Inuit participation in and support for this legislative initiative has been contingent on the expectation that any bill would be distinctions-based and include substantive Inuktut-specific provisions that build on existing rights for Inuktut,” their statement said.

At the sub-state level, various pieces of legislation in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Nunatsiavut give official status to the Inuit language in those regions.

But the Inuit leaders say the proposed national Indigenous languages law should strive to revitalize and promote the Inuit language.

“As Inuit leaders, we agree that national First Nations, Inuit, and Metis languages legislation must include substantive provisions that adequately support the revitalization, maintenance, and promotion of Inuktut,” they said.

The four regional organizations whose presidents control the boards that run the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Inuit Circumpolar Council–Canada issued the statement to coincide with the launch event held at the UN General Assembly in New York City.

Many Indigenous leaders representing peoples who live within the borders of many regions and countries, including Canada, Alaska and Greenland, attended the event.

Hjalmar Dahl, the president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council–Greenland, told UN delegates in a speech that the loss of Indigenous languages and culture can lead to severe social problems, including alcoholism and suicide.

Also in their statement, Canadian Inuit leaders quoted from the Utqiaġvik Declaration, the policy document that circumpolar Inuit delegates passed at the ICC’s general assembly in Utqiaġvik, Alaska in July 2018.

(Utqiaġvik is the city on the Alaskan North Slope that was formerly known as Barrow.)

The declaration said Inuit language schools and other learning institutions need to be established, along with new pedagogies that reflect Inuit values, culture and language.

“For our language to remain strong the lnuit language must be the primary language of instruction in our schools,” the Utqiaġvik declaration said.