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

Language is fundamental to identity.

That was the message of politiciansat a press conference in Dettah, N.W.T. on Fridayasthe federal government announced $39.4 million in funding to support Indigenouslanguage 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 McLeodsaid 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 Tch government, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, Dene Nation and several band officeswill be among the fundingrecipients 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

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

"Without language identity is lostwithout 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 thatYKDFNstill has some language speakers, but not many.

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

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.

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 responseto 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 governmenthasinvested more than$77 million including Friday's announcement of $39.5 million to support Indigenous languages in the North.