On August 22, 2017, President Chartier attended a meeting on Indigenous languages with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for Culture and Heritage (CH) which was held in Orford, Quebec.
The meeting was co-hosted by Heritage Minister Melanie Joly and Quebec Minister Luc Fortin, who is responsible for culture and languages.
In December 2016, in a speech to the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly, Prime Minister Trudeau stated that the Government will enact an Indigenous Language Act, co-developed with Indigenous Peoples, with the goal of ensuring the preservation, protection and revitalization of First Nations, Métis and Inuit languages in Canada.
President Chartier addressed the issue of revitalization, revival, preservation, protection, maintenance and promotion of the Métis language. AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde and ITK President Natan Obed also addressed their concerns.
At the round table discussion on the state of Indigenous languages in Canada, some of the FPT governments shared their best practices on how to protect and promote Indigenous languages. All FPT governments agreed to co-operate on a pan-Canadian approach to support Indigenous languages.
Minister Joly announced to launch the table on Indigenous languages this fall. A series of official meetings will be held prior to the launching.
Preceding this multi-lateral meeting, Minister Joly and the three National Indigenous leaders met and agreed to move forward on a distinction based process with AFN, ITK and Métis Nation leading up to the adoption of the Indigenous Languages Act by Parliament next year.
l-r: MNC President Clément Chartier, ITK President Natan Obed, Heritage Minister Melanie Joly and AFN NC Perry Bellegarde