B.C. Indigenous languages being learned by thousands: Report

Thousands of people in B.C. are actively learning Indigenous languages, according to a new report from the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC).

“We’re really encouraged that the investments that have been made in language revitalization are [apparently] paying off,” Tracy Herbert, the CEO of the FPCC said.

“We see a huge increase in the number of learners, the number of opportunities available, to see B.C. First Nations that want to learn their language, about a 20 per cent increase in learners from our last report.”

The report is put out every four years based on surveys done in First Nations communities. The report adds that it collects “information that tracks the accomplishment around language learning and celebrates the success.”

“British Columbia is unique within Canada with 34 distinct First Nations languages originating on this land,” the report adds.

There are now more than 17,000 people actively learning Indigenous languages in B.C. the report says, which is about 3,000 people more than what was reported four years ago.

Herbert adds this indicates investments in language revitalization are paying off.

Immersive language programs 

Herbert says there are also hundreds of children in immersion daycare programs called language nests.

“The language nest that we’re funding have really taken off, and we had eight languages nests and now we have 32,” she said.

She adds there can also be opportunities for adults to learn the languages as well.

“I think that there’s also a trend towards providing learning opportunities for adults as well in an immersion environment, because you want the parents to be able to interact with the children that are coming home and speaking the language,” she said.

“There’s been a huge increase in the number of emergent opportunities, and as a result of that, more people are starting to transfer their language in the home.”

According to Herbert, learning new languages can also have positive impacts outside of having a cultural connection.

“There’s all kinds of scientific data around the benefits of learning a language, health benefits, mental health benefits, academic…What I’ve observed in my long tenure here is that children who have had access to their language and culture, often find passion in doing this work,” she said.

“Learning our languages isn’t just about communication and the language, these languages come from this land, and they only exist here.”

Although there are more people learning the languages, Herbert says there’s now a need for consistent, stable, and long-term funding to ensure First Nations across the province can continue in the process.

Herbert says funding that’s been put forward by senior levels of government has gone a long way, but that funding has been project-based and time-limited.

“Work is still not done. It’s very complicated work. It takes time and resources to establish language learning systems in communities, and what we need really is long-term sustainable funding,” Herbert said.