Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Language History in the NWT
Mr. Speaker, the aboriginal and French languages did not have much government support in the NWT up until the 1970s. For many years, neither French nor the aboriginal languages were officially recognized by the federal government in the NWT. In fact, the government had a policy of assimilation toward aboriginal people. Aboriginal culture was not respected. Many aboriginal people were forced to speak English in residential schools, and English was the working language of government and business.
Provincial and territorial boundaries established in western Canada did not respect traditional aboriginal nations. Language and cultural communities were split between different provincial and territorial jurisdictions, which made collective action more difficult.
In 1969, the Official Languages Act of Canada was passed. This act recognized the language rights of Francophones across Canada. In the same year, opposition to the Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy, 1969 (the White Paper) forced the federal government to change its assimilation policy toward aboriginal peoples.
In the early 1970s, government policies in the NWT began to change. The GNWT began to provide French language instruction in the schools. Aboriginal language programming was also developed for the schools. The government began to train and hire professional interpreter/translators. Language promotion activities were carried out.
Since 1984, the federal government has provided the GNWT with funding for French language services and the development of the aboriginal languages. Government services have been provided, where reasonable, in all official languages. More recently, aboriginal language communities have taken significant responsibility for regional language planning and community projects. Divisional education councils have maintained responsibility for aboriginal language instruction in the schools. A French language school board has been established to govern French first language programming.
Mr Speaker, I will now ask my colleague, the Honourable Roger Allen, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes and member of the special committee, to continue.