'Without language identity is lost': feds invest $39.4 M into Indigenous language programs in the North

Story by Natalie Pressman • 

Language is fundamental to identity.

That was the message of politicians at a press conference in Dettah, N.W.T. on Friday as the federal government announced $39.4 million in funding to support Indigenous language revitalization in the territories.

The biggest slice of the federal funding, $17.7 million, will go to Nunavut. The Yukon will receive $14.7 million and the Northwest Territories, $6.9 million.

Northwest Territories MP Michael McLeod said preserving and revitalizing language is important because for generations, Indigenous people have lived under systems design to erode their cultures.

It's something he said he knows about first-hand as a residential school survivor.

"Languages are fundamental to our identities, our culture, our spirituality," he said.

The Native Communication Society of the N.W.T., the Tłı̨chǫ government, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, Dene Nation and several band offices will be among the funding recipients in the Northwest Territories.

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) received the largest investments in the N.W.T. — almost a million dollars each.

Holding on by the thread

Ndilǫ Chief Fred Sangris said the funding would help ensure longevity of language among youth.


"Without language identity is lost — without language, communication between the young and the old could not happen," he said.

Sangris said that First Nations across the country are losing their languages and that YKDFN still has some language speakers, but not many.

"We're still holding on to our language," he said, "at the very thread."



Ndilǫ Chief Fred Sangris said his community is holding on to its language© Travis Burke/CBC

Edward Sangris, chief of Dettah, said he anticipates the funds to be put toward Willideh language programming in the YKDFN community's school.

"Our vision is to have schools talking in our language, all the way from kindergarten to graduation," he said.

Jeannie Martin is a Willideh Yatie instructor at the language and culture history department in Dettah.

"I really love my language," she said.


Jeannie Martin, left, and Stella Martin, right, are Willideh Yatie instructors at the language and culture history department in Dettah.© Natalie Pressman/CBC

Martin said she wasn't yet sure how the new funds will support her work but that it's good news for the students.

"I just want to teach them, the ones that want to learn," she said.

The federal government passed the Indigenous Languages Act in 2019. It's a response to a call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that emphasizes the importance of preserving, revitalizing and strengthening Indigenous languages.

Since 2019 the federal government has invested more than $77 million — including Friday's announcement of $39.5 million — to support Indigenous languages in the North.