Canada History Week 2021 Learning Tool

8 SECTION 3 – MITIARJUK NAPPAALUK & LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION The Truth and Reconciliation Commission published a list of 94 Calls to Action, which offer specific ways that Canadian society can help address the injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples. Calls 13- 17 pertain specifically to language and culture – read them here. Some Indigenous cultures use sign language to communicate and visually narrate discussions. Examples include Plains Sign Language, Plateau Sign Language, and Inuit Sign Language. Efforts are being made to revitalize these languages. For more information, consult Indigenous Sign Languages in Canada. Before European colonization, Indigenous peoples spoke a wide variety of languages. As a means of assimilating Indigenous peoples, colonial policies like the Indian Act and the residential school system forbade the speaking of Indigenous languages (see Genocide and Indigenous Peoples in Canada) . These restrictions have led to the ongoing endangerment of Indigenous languages in Canada. In 2016, Statistics Canada reported that for about 40 Indigenous languages in Canada, there are 500 speakers or less. Indigenous communities and various educational institutions have taken measures to prevent more language loss and to preserve Indigenous languages. Read more about Indigenous Language Revitalization in Canada.