Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to applaud the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for leading his department in the development of the Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Plan - A Shared Responsibility. I think this plan is an important step in revitalizing aboriginal languages throughout the Northwest Territories.
As a member of the Government Ops committee, I had the opportunity to participate on the committee in the review of the Official Languages Act earlier in the life of this Assembly where we came up with Reality Check: Securing a Future for the Official Languages in the Northwest Territories.
As part of that review I had the privilege and honour of travelling to communities with members of the committee to meet with the champions of the individual aboriginal language groups throughout the Northwest Territories. During these meetings it became obvious and clear that language is inherent to culture and culture is inherent to language. Without one the other is challenged, the other is
threatened. So it’s important that we find ways to work with the aboriginal communities to revitalize these languages.
They are under threat. For example, in 2006 there were only 200 people who identified Gwich’in as their mother tongue and, more alarmingly, only 20 of them indicated that they use it as their home language. In Inuktitut we had 800 who claimed it as their mother tongue; only 145 said they use it as their home language. Cree: 205 identified it as their mother tongue; only 20 identified it as their home language. Chipewyan: 410 identified it as their mother tongue; only 115 identified it as their home language. Tlicho is a little bit better: 2,040 identified it as their mother tongue; only 1,095 indicated they use it as their home language. North and South Slavey: 2,170 identified it as their mother tongue; 975 indicated it is their home language. Clearly the languages are in trouble and need some work.
In our report we built upon the report that was conducted and completed in 2003 where there are 65 recommendations made. Unfortunately, at the time it was clear to us that many of these recommendations weren’t acted upon. As a result, we built upon those recommendations and came up with 48 of our recommendations which we passed along to the Minister. I know, based on the fact that they have 70 actions, many, and I know that at least 17 for sure, have been addressed directly and they’re moving on them. This is an important step and it’s going to go a long way to revitalizing aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories. Once again I would like to thank the Minister for that work.