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Language and Culture (13-17)

First Nations National Action Plan: UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032)

December 6, 2022

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According to Canada’s most recent census (2021), 18.9 per cent of First Nations people have knowledge of a First Nations language compared to 22.48 per cent in 2016. The data reflect a decline in mother tongue speakers as well as in second language speakers since the previous census.

Assembly of First Nations: The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2022 to 2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (the Decade), with the aim to raise awareness and draw global attention to the urgent need to reclaim and revitalize Indigenous languages throughout the world.

The more than 65 First Nations languages in Canada are linguistic treasures that express a distinct First Nations world view and way of life. Not only are they essential to our identity, to who we are as individuals and as First Nations, they are unique and rich repositories of human knowledge that capture and transmit our unique way of thinking and understanding the world. First Nations languages are vibrant and sophisticated. Their built-in complexities and literacies convey meanings and world views that reflect all realms of life, be it emotional, spiritual, or cognitive. An essential aspect of self determination, our languages are fundamental to our individual and communal health and well-being; our relationships with family, community, and the natural environment; our culture; and our educational and socio-economic stability and growth.

The vision of the Action Plan is to harness developments in Canada and the mobilization efforts of the Decade to realize significant growth in First Nations language reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and ultimately normalization, across the country.

The primary objective of the Action Plan is to enhance and support the reclamation and revitalization of First Nations languages such that First Nations languages will thrive as living languages over the course of the Decade and well into the future. In practical terms, the goal is that all First Nations will be in a state of active revitalization.

Five action areas and associated goals to support this primary objective include:

  • Enshrining engagement
  • Increasing engagement
  • building community strategies
  • Enshrining support
  • improving measurement

For full details click on the following link:

https://www.afn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IDIL-ACTION-PLAN-FA_ENG.pdf

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