
Ottawa to invest $39.4M to support Indigenous languages in northern territories
Global News
The funding is set to go to communities, organizations and governments to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen the languages.
The federal government says it is investing $39.4 million to support Indigenous languages in the territories.
The funding is to go to communities, organizations and governments to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen the languages.
Northwest Territories member of Parliament Michael McLeod announced the funding in the Yellowknives Dene First Nation community of Dettah on behalf of the minister of Canadian Heritage.
The First Nation says the funding will help it deliver language and culture classes and camps, as well as develop lesson plans, books, videos and reference documents in the Wiiliideh language.
The federal government says it has invested a total of $77.2 million to support Indigenous languages in the North since 2019.
More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken across Canada, many of which are endangered.
Yellowknives Dene First Nations Chief Fred Sangris of Ndilo said residential schools had a dramatic impact as students were prevented from speaking their traditional language.
“We’re hanging onto our language at the very thread,” he said.