$39.4 M to Indigenous Language Programs

"Language is fundamental to identity", was the message of politicians at a press conference in Dettah, N.W.T., Canada, on Friday as the federal government announced $39.4 million in funding to support Indigenous language revitalization in the territories.

This is reported by CBC.

The biggest slice of the federal funding, $17.7 million, will go to Nunavut. The Yukon will receive $14.7 million and the Northwest Territories, $6.9 million.

Northwest Territories MP Michael McLeod said preserving and revitalizing language is important because for generations, Indigenous people have lived under systems design to erode their cultures.

The Native Communication Society of the N.W.T., the Tłı̨chǫ government, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, Dene Nation and several band offices will be among the funding recipients in the Northwest Territories.

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) received the largest investments in the N.W.T., of almost a million dollars each.