Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a third analytical step, the committee looked at established approaches to language revitalization. This might be helpful for the creation of a comprehensive aboriginal languages revitalization regime in the Northwest Territories. We have used a framework that was developed by a UNESCO expert group to create decision tools for the development of language policy, identifying issues and safeguards as they relate to language revitalization.

When examining the factors identified in this framework in combination with the language trends and indicators discussed earlier, it quickly becomes evident that all aboriginal languages in the NWT require some degree of revitalization. French as a minority language in the Northwest Territories requires maintenance measures in order to

maintain it as the language of everyday use by the francophone community.

The committee suggests that the following criteria need to be considered for successful aboriginal languages revitalization in the NWT:

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The circumstances of each language

community have to be examined to decide on an appropriate plan.

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Long-term multifaceted programs with a range of resources and much personal dedication of community members are essential.

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Government policies affecting language use in public and the connection that people make between language use and economic well-being for their family are determining factors.

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This being said, the most important success factor is people wanting to speak their language.

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Outsiders can provide expertise, funding and moral support, but community members need to “construct the revitalization program which suits their ambitions, needs, and resources.”

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Before decisions are made, each language

must be assessed for its degree of vitality/endangerment. Those tools can also be applied over time to measure success of initiatives.

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Language domains expand due to modernization, globalization, and economic and technological developments. If a community language is not used in these new domains, it is losing vitality. This is of grave concern for all our aboriginal languages in the NWT. How much language is actually used in a particular domain plays an important role as well.

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Because education is a critical domain for

language use, it is also a logical place to start. True revitalization, however, can only happen when all subjects are taught in the endangered language. Education in our school system is strongly related to literacy, which leads to the point that education in all subject areas needs to include the availability of written materials.

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Language attitudes can make or break the

success of revitalization programs; for example:

o Government attitudes are influenced by

the majority population and are reflected in language and education policies and funding allocation.

o Canadian residential school policies, for

example, led to forced assimilation and prohibition of aboriginal languages, resulting in an interruption of intergenerational transmission. This history has lasting effects on the vitality of many aboriginal languages and decreases the chances of successful revitalization.

o Community attitudes are critical for the

success of language revitalization.

The concerns brought forward to the committee by the language communities, language advocates, stakeholders and witnesses are very serious. Language indicators show that the aboriginal languages are in a state of emergency. The Government of the Northwest Territories has no implementation plan for the Official Languages Act or a coordinated approach to support the communities’ revitalization efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I will pass this back on to the deputy chair of the committee, Mr. Hawkins.