January 28, 2019: Métis Nation President Chartier addresses official launch event at UNESCO headquarters in Paris while talks progress on Indigenous Languages legislation in Canada.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages (Ref.: A/RES/71/178 Rights of Indigenous peoples) in order to raise global attention to the critical risks confronting Indigenous languages and its significance for sustainable development, reconciliation, good governance and peacebuilding. The celebration in 2019 will contribute to the access to, and promotion of, Indigenous languages and to a concrete improvement in the lives of Indigenous peoples by strengthening the capacities of Indigenous language speakers and relevant Indigenous peoples’ governing bodies.
MNC President Chartier and Culture Minister Clara Morin dal Col attended today’s launch event of the UN initiative at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris. On February 1, 2019, the President of the UN General Assembly will convene a High-Level Event in New York for the global launch of international Year of Indigenous Languages.
In his remarks in Paris, President Chartier cited progress on Indigenous languages legislation in Canada as a concrete example of what can be done by States and the UN System to better support the important work on Indigenous language revitalization. The Department of Canadian Heritage, the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis Nation are working together to co-develop national First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages legislation that will reflect the distinct geographical, political, legislative and cultural context impacting language preservation, promotion and revitalization. The Métis Nation engaged with Michif speakers, educators and advocates from across the Métis homeland to inform the key elements of the proposed legislation.
President Chartier and Culture Minister Clara Morin dal Col
