Canada launches United Nations Decade of Indigenous Languages in Ottawa
CBC
Representatives from across the country gathered Friday in Ottawa to celebrate the Canadian launch of the United Nations Decade of Indigenous Languages.
The launch was held at the Royal Canadian Geographic Society by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and Perry Bellegarde, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Simon, who is Inuk, is the first Indigenous Governor General and spoke about the importance of preserving languages, using her first language, Inuktitut, as an example.
She said she hopes her language grows, not just survives, and said it's crucial to keep using languages in order to protect them.
"I think we can all agree that there's no better way of preserving and enhancing one's language than using it, and using it in every possible venue, in any venue that we're able to," Simon said.
Mi'kmaw singer Emma Stevens from Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia sang three songs at the event, one honouring the MMIWG movement, another a love song to Cape Breton, and a Mi'kmaw version of The Beatles song Blackbird. She said it was an amazing experience being there to sing in her language.
"Being Indigenous myself and coming from a community myself that the language is kind of losing its value there, too… it was great to be a part of the event," she said.
She said she hopes to use music as a way to keep the language alive.
"I can hopefully get more language with music into my community … because music is a universal language," said Stevens.
Joshua Morin, a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta who teaches Michif classes in St. Albert, Alta., spoke at the event, reciting a 1982 prayer by Father Guy Lavallee. He said the words he said were fitting, as they discussed language and were recited previously in 1982 during Constitution talks in Ottawa.
Morin said he was honoured to be a part of the event.
"When I think of this decade, I'm very proud of the work that people have done, that people continue to do," he said.
"[I'm] just very, very proud and honoured that I'm able to keep that work continuing going for future generations."
Morin also said he hopes to see more financial equity among Canada's language efforts within the decade.
When people who are overweight and obese stopped taking their weight-loss medications they regained weight faster than those who stopped a diet or exercise program, a new review has found.
Amid concerns that businesses are profiting from Indigenous culture without always gaining the consent of the nation from which it originated, it raises the question of how to protect Indigenous intellectual property.
A spider with extra-long genitalia (for a good reason); a carnivorous caterpillar that wears its prey's body parts; and a tiny, mountain-dwelling opossum are among the cool new species described by science in 2025.
It’s like Amazon for hard drugs: cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, paid for with credit cards and e-transfers, delivered by Canada Post.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has added several Peace by Chocolate and NuttyHero products to its ongoing recall of pistachios possibly contaminated with salmonella.
Two Cree fashion designers who are inspired by family took the chance by leaving their home communities and are following their dreams.
When Eduardo Mercado first heard a humpback whale sing, he was fascinated by their rhythmic, moaning, haunting sounds.
The Northwestern Health Unit has confirmed its first case of measles in the region since an alarming rise in the spread of the disease began across the province and country — even leading to temporary outbreak status in Ontario.