National Indigenous Languages Day

Preserving a Living Heritage

Each year, on March 31, the National Indigenous Languages Day highlights the importance of protecting and revitalizing the languages of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. These languages are essential to cultural identity, the transmission of knowledge, and the deep connection to ancestral territories.

In Canada, however, Indigenous languages remain vulnerable. According to Statistics Canada, about one in eight Indigenous people—or 237,420 individuals—report being able to speak one of the 70 distinct Indigenous languages well enough to hold a conversation.

Census data also show a decline of 10,750 speakers between 2016 and 2021. This marks the first decrease observed since data began being collected in 1991. One reason for this trend is that fewer children are learning an Indigenous language as their mother tongue during childhood.

These findings clearly indicate that many Indigenous languages are at risk, and some are in danger of disappearing.

Encouraging Signs of Revitalization

Despite these challenges, a number of community-based and educational initiatives are helping to revitalize Indigenous languages and strengthen their transmission to younger generations.

Some encouraging developments include:

• Mi’kmaq was the most widely spoken Indigenous language among First Nations members of Atlantic Canada in 2021, with 8,195 speakers, representing a 5.9% increase since 2016.
• In Quebec, First Nations children aged 14 and under (39.4%) were nearly three times more likely to speak an Indigenous language than First Nations adults aged 65 and over (13.4%).
• Michif, a language unique to the Métis Nation—combining Cree, Ojibwe, and French, with borrowings from English and other Indigenous languages—has also seen growth. In 2021, 1,485 Métis reported being able to hold a conversation in Michif, an increase of 460 speakers since 2016, or 44.9% growth.

These examples reflect the revitalization efforts led by Indigenous communities, including language education, cultural programs, and intergenerational transmission initiatives.

Raising Awareness to Protect Languages

National Indigenous Languages Day offers an important opportunity to raise awareness among the population about both the richness and the fragility of Indigenous languages. Preserving them contributes not only to the cultural vitality of Indigenous peoples but also to the linguistic diversity of Canada.

As Dr. Lorna Wánosts’a7 Williams, Indigenous educator and researcher from Canada, explains:

“Our languages are very important to our sense of belonging and to our understanding of who we are. Our languages also allow us to understand our territories.”

An International Movement

This growing awareness extends beyond Canada. The United Nations has proclaimed 2022–2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, aiming to mobilize governments and communities around the protection, revitalization, and transmission of Indigenous languages.

These initiatives remind us that the survival of these languages depends on collective commitment, grounded in respect of cultures, recognition of linguistic rights, and support for the communities that keep these languages alive.

👉 You can also discover how to say “hello” and “how are you?” in several Indigenous languages by exploring the resources available online.