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Mr. Speaker, “Let’s Go Fishing”. That is the theme of this year’s Indigenous Languages Month, which we celebrate every February, in partnership with Indigenous governments, and the Northwest Territories Literacy Council. To help everyone embrace this year’s celebration, we are sharing a delicious Fish Chowder recipe in all nine official Indigenous languages. Throughout February we continue to encourage residents to engage in the exciting activities in communities and schools to promote Indigenous language use.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is a landscape of rich and vibrant cultures that are the foundation of our Northern identity. Our nine official Indigenous languages capture the diversity of our territory and make it truly unique.  As leaders and residents, we share the responsibility of revitalizing our Cree, Inuvialuit, Dene, and Metis cultures and languages through education and practice.

Our Indigenous Languages Action Plan has two main goals: revitalizing Indigenous languages and enhancing access to government services Indigenous languages; and over the past year we have continued to work diligently towards these goals.

In 2021, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment hosted two virtual Interpreter/Translator gatherings that included 43 participants. At these gatherings, the department heard a range of needs for support and training, including the need for technology, linguistics, and specialized training; the need for accreditation and certification opportunities; resource development; and the need to recruit more Indigenous language speakers to join this profession. Based on this feedback, the department is researching potential partnerships to offer training and supports to new and existing Interpreters and Translators.
In July 2021, the department launched the second delivery of the Mentor-Apprentice Program, and it was bigger and better than ever. The amount of language learning hours was increased from 100 to 200, and the length of the program was increased from four to eight months. Although the program runs until March 2022, thirty-five pairs of apprentices and mentors have already completed the required training for six language groups: Dene Zhatıé, Inuvialuktun, Gwich’in, Dene Kede, Tłı̨chǫ, and Dëne Sųłıné.

A final gathering of mentors and apprentices is being planned for next month.  It will include a program evaluation, training, and an evening gala that will showcase apprentices speaking in their languages.

Mr. Speaker, 2022 marks the fourth year of the GNWT’s Indigenous Languages Revitalization Scholarship Program. This year, ten $5,000 scholarships will be available to students who are registered in an accredited post-secondary program with a focus on Indigenous language revitalization. This will add to the 31 scholarships already awarded.
In 2021, the department also updated the NWT JK-12 Indigenous Languages and Education Handbook. The Handbook provides educators with a user-friendly guide to implement the Indigenous Language Education Policy, ensuring quality, culture-based school programming and a whole school approach to Indigenous language use. Contributions to the Handbook were made by Elders and Knowledge Keepers, Regional Indigenous Language and Education coordinators, Indigenous language instructors, other educators, community members and students. Rooted in the wisdom, traditions, and lived experiences of the Elders and Knowledge Keepers that guided the creation of the Dene Kede and Inuuqatigiit curricula, all educators can draw upon this resource to strengthen Indigenous education and support language revitalization in the territory. The updated Handbook will be distributed to school staff in the coming months.

Revitalizing Indigenous language takes ingenuity, commitment, and courage. I have heard that from people in the Mentor-Apprentice Program, it takes courage to start and courage to make mistakes and courage to learn. I would like to test my own courage by concluding this Minister’s statement using the language of my ancestors.

Following Portion will be spoken in Cree

[Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to live in and represent our territory, which has a rich cultural history, supported by Elders, leaders and Knowledge keepers. By working to revitalize Indigenous languages, we strengthen our people and our communities. It is critical that we continue our efforts to preserve Indigenous languages and cultures so they are vibrant and prosperous for generations to come.

Mahsi cho to all those who continue to promote Indigenous language and culture revitalization efforts across the Northwest Territories.]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.