The Assembly of First Nations Québec – Labrador – The AFNQL is in a very good position to understand the merits of the linguistic initiative launched by the Government of Quebec through its Bill 96 on the official and common language of Quebec, but it warns that the survival and development of one language must never be at the expense of another language and must never be based on coercion. The ten First Nations that make up the AFNQL will respectfully examine the Quebec bill, and together, they will prepare and make known their reaction, clearly and firmly, in due course. The option that the Chiefs’ Assembly will choose to formally express its position to the Government of Quebec and to the entire Quebec population will be decisive for our living together. For a respectful relationship between us, it is fundamental that the position of First Nations on the essential question of languages be clear and well understood.

First Nations understand better than anyone the importance of preserving the language passed down to us by our parents. Our languages are the bearers of our traditions, our cultures, and our values. Some of our First Nations have lived through sad historical episodes whose asserted goal was to eradicate their culture and language. They had the resilience to survive, not without pain. Today, they are working to revive and maintain them to preserve and transmit their integrity to the younger generations. In addition to the primary question of the original languages, for several First Nations, the use of second languages, either French or English, which they have had imposed on them, is also an issue that will be the subject of reflection by the Chiefs.