Indigenous Languages Act
| Indigenous Languages Act | |
|---|---|
| Parliament of Canada | |
| |
| Citation | S.C. 2019, c. 23 |
| Assented to | 2019-06-21 |
| Administered by | Department of Canadian Heritage |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill citation | C-91 |
| First reading | 2019-02-05 |
| Second reading | 2019-04-01 |
| Third reading | 2019-05-09 |
| First reading | 2019-04-30 |
| Second reading | 2019-05-27 |
| Third reading | 2019-06-13 |
| Status: In force | |
The Indigenous Languages Act (French: Loi sur les langues autochtones) is a Canadian federal law designed to protect, promote, revive and revitalise indigenous lanuages in Canada.[1]
History
[edit]The Truth and Reconcilliation Commission recommended an "Aboriginal Languages Act".[2]
The act was given royal assent on Indigenous People's Day.[3]
Provision
[edit]The act establishes the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages.[4]
The act gives federal institutions the power to give their own documents translations or provide interpretation.[5]
Criticism
[edit]Lack of rights
[edit]The act has been criticised by multiple organisations represnting indigenous people for not providing rights relating to accessing healthcare, education and justice.[3][6]
Organisations, including Elections Canada, may provide services or documents in an indigenous language, but there is no mandate for linguistic accommodation, meaning the measures are discretionary without any guarantees.[7]
Inuit
[edit]The act was criticised by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the land-claim organization representing Inuit in Nunavut, as being inadequate for lacking provisions relating to accessing public services, which had been seen as "something Inuit have wanted to see".[3] According to the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, National Representational Organization Protecting and Advancing the Rights and Interests of Inuit in Canada, unlike provincial and territorial languages commissioners, "the national indigenous languages commissioner will be a poweless advocacy body".[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Turin, Mark; Humchitt, Robyn (18 December 2024). "Why is it so hard to type in Indigenous languages?". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Deer, Frank (30 May 2019). "Ancestral languages are essential to Indigenous identities in Canada". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "New Indigenous languages law does not protect Inuit languages, leaders say". CBC News. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ a b Friedrich, Doris (2 April 2019). "Indigenous Languages Act sparks controversy". High North News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Rogers, Sarah (17 June 2019). "Senate adopts Indigenous Languages Act, with amendments". Archived from the original on 12 February 2020.
- ^ Rao, Di (6 March 2024). "Canada should provide Indigenous languages with constitutional protection". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Balan, Veaceslav (5 October 2021). "We speak a lot of languages in Canada — elections should reflect our diversity". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2025.