Mobilizing to preserve, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages

The land speaks—and Indigenous languages allow us to understand her. A form of living heritage, these languages are pillars of identity and culture that illuminate relationships and interconnectivity to land and place. When one disappears, a way of seeing and interacting with the world goes with it.

Unfortunately, languages around the world are vanishing at an alarming rate: of the nearly 7,000 languages that still exist today, 40 per cent are at risk of disappearing, most of them Indigenous. In fact, linguists predict that up to 90 per cent of the world’s languages may disappear by the end of the century.

The continued effects of colonialism have impacted Indigenous people’s capacities to safeguard and transmit both their cultures and their languages. And despite these destructive forces, the endurance of cultures and languages attests to the incredible resilience of Indigenous peoples, communities and Nations.

To respond to this crisis, UNESCO has launched the Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032). The need is urgent and the mission is clear: to build a global community to help preserve, revitalize and support Indigenous languages worldwide.

Language for sustainable development

These languages matter for development, peacebuilding and reconciliation. They are not only tools for communication, education, social integration and development, but repositories for unique identities, cultural histories, traditions and memories. Languages contribute significantly to our world’s rich cultural diversity, and are a part of humanity’s collective heritage. Preserving them is an ethical obligation for society and critical to safeguarding dignity at the individual level.

In addition, there are direct links between the revitalization of Indigenous languages and eight of the Sustainable Development Goals—and indirect links to another seven.

The contribution of Indigenous knowledge to climate action, biodiversity, food security, land and water management and health is not only undisputed, but critical as we enter the final Decade of Action to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Language as a human right

Beyond these imperatives, learning, speaking and transmitting your language is a fundamental human right. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literatures, and to designate and retain their own names for communities, places and persons.

It also advises that states should ensure these rights are protected, and that Indigenous peoples can understand and be understood in political, legal and administrative proceedings, even if it means providing interpretation or other appropriate supports.

In Canada, six of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action focus on language—from recognizing language rights to enacting a languages act to promoting Indigenous languages and offering post-secondary programs in Indigenous languages. The TRC argues that Indigenous languages are “a fundamental and valued element of Canadian culture and society” and that protecting them is urgent. It also found that protecting language rights is part of healing from the devastation of residential schools. 

The Indigenous Languages Act, which resulted from the Calls to Action, became law in 2019, enabling the exercise of Indigenous language rights by creating legal assurance for adequate, sustainable, and long-term funding and support for Indigenous-led initiatives to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages.

Our response

Over the coming decade, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO will continue to collaborate with Indigenous people, communities and organizations to support the protection, maintenance and revitalization of Indigenous languages. Supporting languages is an act of reconciliation, and they are essential to ensuring a sustainable future.

Recognizing that languages are pillars of identity and culture—and that protecting linguistic diversity and biological diversity go hand in hand—we are taking a holistic approach to advancing the goals of the UN Decade of Indigenous Languages. We are mobilizing on all sectors to contribute.

Building on some of the key intervention areas from the 2019 International Year on Indigenous Languages, over the Decade, we will:

• Raise awareness of the importance of Indigenous languages and reinforce speakers’ human rights, the connection to truth and reconciliation, and the value that language diversity holds for all humanity.
• Share knowledge and mobilize resources by promoting initiatives and networks that highlight promising practices and tools.
• Participate in capacity-building initiatives in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations.
• Generate new knowledge by mobilizing and leveraging global research communities.

We are heartened by the many other organizations, communities and individuals already working diligently to promote, safeguard and revitalize Indigenous languages. We have established a working group of language leaders and Indigenous language organizations to guide our work. CCUNESCO looks to the working group to identify opportunities and direct our efforts in advancing the goals for the Decade. In this first year, we are honored to collaborate with inspiring language leaders and excited about the work we will continue to build on together during this momentous Decade.

Highlights from Year 1

• Canadian launch of the Decade: Languages of the Land
  On Earth Day, CCUNESCO collaborated with the Canada Council for the Arts and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) to launch the Decade. The event included cultural sharing and musical performances by Beatrice Deer, Emma Stevens, and Zachary Willier, and a powerful message of hope from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, all hosted by RCGS Honorary President Chief Perry Bellegarde. All of this, along with the powerhouse intergenerational circle discussion, introduced by Chief Wilton Littlechild and witnessed by Dr. Lorna Wanosts’a7 Williams. You can watch highlights of the event here.
• Webinars:
  • Gikinoo'amaadiwinan (Learning from Each Other)
    In partnership with the Canadian School of Public Service, the Commission hosted a webinar where over 2,500 public servants joined to learn more about how they can support and promote Indigenous languages at work. The webinar had interpretation in Ojibway.

  • UNESCO schools in action: engagement for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages

• Launch of NIN exhibition at UNESCO
  The Commission supported the launch of the exhibition Nin, Je suis, I am, developed by Minwashin, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The exhibition pays tribute to the Anicinabek language and culture.
• CCUNESCO organized and participated in numerous panel presentations including:
  • Festival TransAmériques: First Peoples and Their Living Voices
  • Kwe! Fest: Opening remarks and panel participation
  • Assembly of First Nations Languages Forum: Co-presentation with Tom Johnson: Ikanita’nej (Let’s Lead Together)
  • Arctic Arts Summit: Intergenerational Perspectives on Languages, Land, and Art: Honouring the UN Decade of Indigenous Languages
• Publications:
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Voices and Shaping Cultural Policies
  • Ta’n Telatuet L’nu / The Language of Indigenous Heritage
  • Teaching and learning Indigenous languages: inspiring practices from the UNESCO schools network