Indigenous languages are an irreplaceable component of unique cultures, traditions, and worldviews that have developed over millennia—they are an integral part of Indigenous Peoples’ identity and a key aspect of self-determination. Language is the fundamental way Indigenous Peoples’ share their knowledge, communicate their understanding of the world, and connect with their spirituality. As such, language has been shown to play a critical role in Indigenous Peoples’ well-being—including their mental health and their sense of community belonging.
Indigenous Peoples’ across Canada were systematically dispossessed of their languages through the Indian Residential School System. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its final report detailing the history and ongoing legacy of the Indian Residential School System. This report included 94 Calls to Action, with five of them addressing the importance of Indigenous languages as “fundamental and valued elements of Canadian culture and society” and stressing the urgency to preserve them.