Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages

Indigenous languages revitalization at an Ottawa summit The Global Indigenous Language Summit in Ottawa kicked off today. It's four days focused on what is happening and what is next for language revitalization. We'll hear from one of the cohosts, Waneek H...

www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

What You Need to Know About Indigenous Language Revitalization Learn about the urgent need for Indigenous language revitalization in Canada and the efforts being made to keep these languages alive.

Today, February 21, is International Mother Language Day, a UNESCO designated holiday created to celebrate the importance of language preservation and linguistic diversity. Learn more here about the importance of Indigenous language revitalization in Canada:

www.ictinc.ca/blog/what-yo...

AI, algorithms and Indigenous agency in Taiwan Collaboration is necessary to turn AI from a tool which exacerbates the marginalisation of Taiwan’s Indigenous communities into a means for cultural resurgence

Questions worth pondering, particularly as digital tools for Indigenous language revitalization efforts have grown in importance, but there will inevitably be impacts from the advent of AI

eastasiaforum.org/2025/04/25/a...

Indigenous language revitalization is critical to addressing the polycrises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and insect extinction. Our worldviews are intimately linked to our languages. Glad to see this article today.

Indigenous languages summit focuses on revitalization An Indigenous languages summit taking place in Ottawa features language experts from around the world and is focusing on revitalization.

The first full day of the Global Indigenous Languages Summit in Ottawa wrapped up Tuesday afternoon.

The theme was land and language, which featured a social media and youth component, as well as breakout sessions on Indigenous language revitalization.

Chantu William, a Tŝilhqot’in from B.C.'s central Interior and a graduate from FPCC's YES program, is featured in this CBC article.

She says, "learning her language growing up supported her mental health and identity as an Indigenous person".

#languagerevitalization #languagelearning

Thrilled to be at WAVES 2025, the Global Indigenous Languages Summit by @ocil-ila.bsky.social to share the work of the Indigenous North American Type project @typotheque.com

Come visit our booth — the exhibit hall floor 3 & come to our collab session at 2 PM today in room 206! #WAVES2025 #langsky

The CASLT booth at WAVES 2025

Plenary room at WAVES 2025

A banner in the 7GEN Space that reads "If language wasn't important, why did they try to take it away from us?"

A language learning resource board where conference participants can share resources

We're honoured to be at #waves2025ottawa, hosted by @ocil-ila.bsky.social.

WAVES 2025 aims to promote & champion all #Indigenouslanguages in Canada as well as support global Indigenous language revitalization efforts. 🌎

Le kiosque de l’ACPLS à ONDES 2025

Salle plénière à ONDES 2025

Une bannière dans l’espace 7GEN qui dit, en anglais, : « Si la langue n’était pas importante, pourquoi ont-ils essayé de nous l’enlever? »

Un tableau de ressources pour l’apprentissage des langues où les participant(e)s à la conférence peuvent partager des ressources

Nous sommes honorés d’être à #ondes2025ottawa, organisé par @ocil-ila.bsky.social.

ONDES 2025 vise à promouvoir et à défendre toutes les #languesautochtones au Canada ainsi qu'à soutenir les efforts de revitalisation des langues autochtones à l’échelle mondiale. 🌎

We are attending this year's WAVES 2025, Global Indigenous Languages Summit!

Happening this week in Ottawa.

We hope to see you there!

#WAVES2025 #LanguageRevitalization #IDIL

Chi miigwetch @ocil-ila.bsky.social for this vital gathering, and to @fpcc.ca for their sponsorship and the opportunity to learn from the great Wanosts'a7, a Woman Who Walks In Peace Among People indeed, merci infiniment 🙏

Indigenous languages summit focuses on revitalization An Indigenous languages summit taking place in Ottawa features language experts from around the world and is focusing on revitalization.

Revitalization the focus of Indigenous languages summit in Ottawa www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...

Demain, c’est le grand jour—nous nous réunissons pour ONDES 2025, le Sommet mondial des langues autochtones ! Unissons nos voix et donnons un nouvel élan aux langues et aux communautés autochtones, afin de façonner l’avenir des langues autochtones.

Tomorrow’s the day we come together for WAVES 2025, Global Indigenous Languages Summit! Let’s lift up our voices and spark new energy for Indigenous languages and communities, and shape the future for Indigenous Languages.

ELP will be at the WAVES Global Indigenous Languages Summit in Ottawa, August 11-14. We are looking forward to meeting and learning from other language revitalization folks around the world!

Learn more: waves2025.ca

Tsilhqot'in youth leaders Sierra William, left, Loretta Jeff, Jaemyn Baldwin, Peyal Laceese, Dakota Diablo, Chantu William and Gerald Hance. William is working on language handbooks to give to parents at the local daycare.

Indigenous people's health tightly tied to speaking their own languages, review finds https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/indigenous-health-outcomes-indigenous-language-revitalization-1.7569554

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁

Say it with Respect: A Journalists' Guide - First Peoples Cultural Council Say it with Respect: A Journalists' Guide to Reporting on Indigenous & Minoritized Languages by ELP and FPCC.

The First Peoples’ Cultural Council of British Columbia has put together a guide for journalists on reporting on indigenous and minority languages, language endangerment, and language revitalization:

fpcc.ca/resource/say...

#indigenous #FirstNations #aboriginal #languages #linguistics #journalism

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres held their AGM in Kingston on Saturday, with delegates from across Ontario, including Kenora and Red Lake. I spoke about the Kingston Native Centre and its role in language revitalization. I hope everyone enjoyed their time in Kingston!

#ygk

Spotlight: Guest Speakers 🔆
Don’t miss your chance to hear Dr. Caroline Running Wolf and Dr. Michael Running Wolf talk about “Using XR for Indigenous Language Revitalization.”
Session Time: 2:00–3:00 PM
Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Location: Westin Hotel, Confederation Ballroom
waves2025.ca

2025 All Nations Childcare Gathering celebrates Indigenous Early Learning and Language Revitalization Read more via Anishinabek News: https://anishinabeknews.ca/2025/08/01/2025-all-nations-childcare-gathering-celebrates-indigenous-early-learning-and-language-revitalization/

2025 All Nations Childcare Gathering celebrates Indigenous Early Learning and Language Revitalization

Read more via Anishinabek News: https://anishinabeknews.ca/2025/08/01/2025-all-nations-childcare-gathering-celebrates-indigenous-early-learning-and-language-revitalization/

Heading to #waves2025ottawa next week? Hotel deals are almost gone! If you haven't already, make sure to book your hotel today! #hoteldeals #globalIndigenouslanguagessumit
waves2025.ca

Hotel deals are almost gone! Heading to Ottawa for #WAVES2025OTTAWA? Book your hotel room now and don’t miss these discounts! waves2025.ca

image is a map of Canada that has been subdivided into coloured sections representing the distribution of Indigenous languages as of the 2021 census. image source: Reddit.com user throwbarrieaway (2022)

image is a roadside stop sign in Tsuut’ina territory reading "Ast’a Nitl’a". image source: globalnews.ca (2018)

image is a photograph of a green road sign reading the distance to the nearest municipalities in both English and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh: Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh), Vancouver (K'emk'emeláy). image source: cbc.ca (2021)

image is a photograph of the storefront to a Canada Post office in Iqaluit. Its signage is written in English, French, and Inuktitut. image source: cbc.ca (2024) via Matisse Harvey / Radio Canada (2020)

There are 60 to 90 Indigenous languages [exact numbers vary] with over 237,000 individuals being fluent in at least one as of the 2021 Canadian census.

Due to the limited population of speakers most languages are critically endangered and thus preservation efforts are underway to maintain them.

Commissioner Ronald E. Ignace and Directors Georgina Liberty, Robert Watt, and Joan Greyeyes form a dynamic team committed to promoting Indigenous languages in Canada #IndigneousLanguagesCanada #IndigenousLanguages

Google adds first Indigenous language in Canada to its translation service One of the most widely spoken Indigenous languages in this country is now available through Google's translation service, the first time the tech giant has included a First Nations, Métis or Inuit language spoken in Canada on its platform.

One of the most widely spoken Indigenous languages in this country is now available through Google's translation service, the first time the tech giant has included a First Nations, Métis or Inuit language spoken in Canada on its platform.

Nous exprimons notre gratitude à la First Peoples Cultural Foundation pour son soutien. Son engagement permet de revitaliser les langues autochtones et contribue à célébrer notre patrimoine culturel commun. Merci de faire partie de ce mouvement essentiel.

We extend our gratitude to First Peoples Cultural Foundation for their support. Their commitment empowers Indigenous languages revitalization and helps to celebrate our shared cultural heritage. Thank you for being part of this vital movement.

WAVES 2025 Global Indigenous Languages Summit, August 11-14 in Ottawa, Canada

WAVES 2025 will inspire new thinking and will drive ambitious solutions around three major themes: Traditional Ecological Knowledges, Technology, and Community – all with one goal: to bring Indigenous Languages out of the shadows and into the light.

Plus que 7 jours ! Dans une semaine, plus de 2 000 voix provenant de partout au Canada et du monde entier se réuniront pour célébrer et soutenir les langues autochtones.

In one week, more than 2,000 voices from across Canada and around the globe will come together to celebrate Indigenous languages. Join us in-person or on our social media profiles and be part of a powerful movement to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen Indigenous Languages.