Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages

On June 21, 2019, the Indigenous Languages Act (the Act) became law. The Act responds to Calls to Action 13, 14, and 15 of the 2015 Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Act recognizes and affirms that Indigenous language rights are Aboriginal rights under the Constitution Act 1982 that must be protected and preserved. The Act establishes an Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, with a Commissioner and up to three Directors appointed by the Governor in Council. The overarching role of the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous languages is to help promote Indigenous languages and support the reclamation, revitalization, strengthening, and maintenance of Indigenous languages in Canada. The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages is an independent organization. The Commission is not part of the public service nor is it a funding agency. “You’re not learning a word; you’re learning a world. Language reclamation is about expanding the diversity of our knowledge because language is an expression of the accumulated experiences of people. Those who do revitalization work say that biodiversity and knowledge diversity are one and the same – it is work that makes our world better.” -Dr. Lorna Wanosts’a7 Williams