Exploring Theme: "Indig. Responses to Tabling of Bill C-91"

May 10, 2019 – Naten Obed, President ITK, acknowledges NDP MPs for publicly supporting ITK’s proposed amendments to Bill C-91 (An Act respecting Indigenous languages) during third reading debate yesterday. “Bill C-91 was in no way co-developed with Inuit and the federal government’s continued refusal to seek compromise by amending the bill to reflect Inuit priorities...

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), the organization representing Inuit in Nunavut, has expressed great disappointment at both the contents of the indigenous languages bill tabled by the federal government in the House of Commons today, and the process involving its development.  Inuktut has official status at the territorial level in Nunavut. Nunavut forms part of Inuit...

Feb. 5, 2019 – “This is landmark legislation to protect and strengthen Indigenous languages, the original languages of these lands, that embrace our identity, our worldview and our nationhood” and “will support First Nations efforts to keep their languages alive, vital and strong”. National Chief Perry Bellegarde....

Feb. 5, 2019 – “The bill recognizes that the rights related to Indigenous languages are among the rights recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982,” Clara Morin Dal Col, the Métis National Council’s minister of culture, heritage and family....

Feb. 5, 2019 – The government has touted Bill C-91 as being developed in collaboration with Indigenous people, including more than 50 “engagement sessions” across Canada, attended by more than 1,200 people.  ITK President Natan Obed disagrees with that characterization. “Despite being characterized as a reconciliation and co-development initiative, the Government of Canada engaged Inuit in bad...