Hi and boozhoo (an Ojibwe greeting)
This Sunday, March 31st is National Indigenous Languages Day. Observed nationally, it’s reserved as a time to acknowledge the importance of language and culture to the well-being and resilience of Indigenous communities. This day recognizes and honours the more than 70 Indigenous languages from 12 distinct language families spoken in Canada. Supporting Indigenous language learning is integral to Canada’s truth and reconciliation process and is the focus of Calls to Action 13–17 released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Moreover, it is a day to empower the many language champions working to address the language crisis facing Indigenous peoples globally. In addition to the day itself, the decade from 2022 to 2032 is also the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to promote the use of Indigenous languages world-wide.
Indigenous languages are not merely means of communication, but repositories of cultural heritage, wisdom, and identity. Days like this are an opportunity to reflect on the importance of preserving and revitalizing these languages, which are often endangered due to historical injustices and ongoing systemic challenges.
As we think about the importance of this day, it is important to commit oneself to fostering greater awareness, appreciation, and support for Indigenous languages and the communities that safeguard them. Here at Pathways, we actively engage in learning about Indigenous languages and do our best to amplify Indigenous voices while advocating for policies that uphold linguistic rights and promote cultural inclusivity.
It is a collective responsibility to recognize the integral role of Indigenous languages in healing, understanding, and building a more just and equitable society for all.
If interested, here is a non-exhaustive list of resources to get you started on your Indigenous Language learning journey:
- Ojibwe People’s Dictionary
- Michif Language Resources
- Inuktitut Language Resources
- Learncree.ca is a Cree language-learning website run by the Lac La Ronge Band in Saskatchewan.
- The Travelling Linguist – 11 Facts You Didn’t Know About Indigenous Languages Spoken in Canada
- Ted Talk – Canada needs thriving Indigenous Languages
- CBC News: The UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages Begins in 2022
- The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages
- Royal Canadian Geographical Society: International Decade of Indigenous Languages
- Use Native Land Digital to identify whose ancestral territory you occupy. Then, search for online resources that might help you learn a simple greeting or basic conversational terms in the language(s) local to your area.
- Use Native Land Digital to identify whose ancestral territory you occupy. Then, search for online resources that might help you learn a simple greeting or basic conversational terms in the language(s) local to your area.
- FirstVoices is a platform run by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council in British Columbia. It’s an interactive platform where Indigenous communities manage, curate, and share their languages.
- The Indigenous Languages Revitalization website is run by the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc. This site highlights different communities, groups, organizations and individuals working with Indigenous language revitalization.
Yaan gegii mina giizhigad (have a good day)
Written by: Saxon Miller, Consultant
