Sweetgrass braids

National Indigenous Languages Day

National Indigenous Languages Day is annually held on March 31, and it is a day to celebrate and honour Indigenous languages in Canada. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and revitalizing Indigenous languages, which due to colonization and cultural assimilation, have been been put at risk of extinction. Despite this, along with the adverse effects of the Residential School system, many Indigenous languages continue to thrive today.

The day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the richness and diversity of Indigenous languages and the need to protect them for future generations.

Language of the local Territory

Anishinaabemowin (also called Ojibwemowin, and the Ojibwe/Ojibwe language) is an Indigenous language, generally spanning from Manitoba to Québec, with a strong concentration around the Great Lakes.

Elders share that the term Anishinaabemowin acknowledges the creation story of the Ojibwe people: “Anishinaabe” means “the spirit that is lowered down from above,” “-mo” refers to expression through speech and “-win” refers to the life energy within, used to do so. Linguists also explain that “-win” is a nominalizer that turns the verb Anishinaabemo (“he/she is speaking the Anishinaabe language”) into a noun.

According to the 2021 Census, 25,440 people are listed as speaking Ojibwe languages.

Did you know?

There are more than 70 distinct Indigenous languages in Canada that fall into 12 separate language families.
The decade from 2022 to 2032 is also the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to promote the use of Indigenous languages world-wide.
Many of these languages have several dialects, particularly when the language is distributed over a large area. For instance, Cree is considered to be a single language with eight or more variants spoken in dozens of communities and reserves from the Rockies well into Québec and Labrador; and Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe, with a number of dialect variants, is found in many communities throughout central Canada.
In 2019, the Indigenous Languages Act was signed into law to support and promote the use of Indigenous languages. The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages was established with a mandate to support the efforts of Indigenous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen Indigenous languages.
The origins of the American Sign Language you see today had clear influence from Plains Indian Hand talk or also known as, Plains Indian Sign Language (P.I.S.L), learn more about the Hidden History of "Hand Talking".

Educational resources and recommended reads

Goodminds, Indigenous owned book store: Ojibwe Collection
Learn more about Plains Cree Hand Talking here.
Discover the Secrets Behind Indigenous Hand Talkers Article
Common Words with Indigenous Origins
100 Indigenous Words that Changed the English Language
How to Say Hello in 15 Different Indigenous Languages

Did you know?

Indigenous peoples played a significant role in Canada's war efforts, particularly during:

World War I: Over 4,000 Indigenous soldiers served, despite facing discrimination and inequality. They earned 50 Battle Honours and 200 decorations for bravery.
World War II: Approximately 3,000 Indigenous soldiers served, including Code Talkers who used their languages to transmit secret messages.
Korean War: Indigenous soldiers continued to serve with distinction.

Indigenous contributions included:

Bravery in battle
Code-breaking and communication
Cultural expertise (e.g., tracking, survival skills)
Leadership and diplomacy

Notable Indigenous veterans include:

Sergeant Tommy Prince (Devil's Brigade)
Lt. Col. William Gray (D-Day veteran)
Cpl. Francis Pegahmagabow (WWI sniper)

Their sacrifices and achievements paved the way for future generations.

To learn more about the influence contribution of Indigenous peoples throughout visit the Canadian Government website on Indigenous Veterans.