Council Of Yukon First Nations Take Full Control of Languages

Wednesday, 17 January 2018 15:30

YG and CYFN sign deal to to turn over the Yukon Native Language Centre to First Nations

Its being called a historic day. A day in which Yukon First Nations take back their language, after more than 30 years of partial territorial government control. Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston and Education Minister Tracy McPhee, Wednesday announced that CYFN was taking full control, responsibility and administration of the Yukon Native Language Centre, effective immediately.

Johnston called the announcement “huge” for First Nations, in what is expected to begin the revitalization of First Nations language and open the door to those who want to learn it. “It's great to see that CYFN, along with Yukon First Nations now have control of the Yukon Native Language Centre” “It's always been our belief, that languages are our priority. It is our connection to our past, but it important to our identity moving forward.”

Johnston attributed the past use and focus of the Language Centre as a training ground for Yukon government teachers, questioning the number of fluent language teachers training over the past few decades. He says it's time to put First Nations languages in its rightful place. “Language needs to be at the forefront of all that we do.” “We are now given that full opportunity to put language in its rightful place. It's been deemed a priority by all governments in the territory. I look forward to not only revitalizing our language, preserving our language for the next generation, but beginning to build that fluency amongst our people, which is very important not only to our identity but to our future generations.”

The Language Centre did have approximately five Department of Education staff working there prior to today, but McPhee says those employees will be reassigned within the department. Johnston is ensuring that the Centre will remain open during this transition period, as it looks to hire for the vacancies. Training and certificate programs for language teacher trainees will continue. CYFN will still receive $450,000 in territorial government funding for the continued operation of the Language Centre. “This includes funding towards the Yukon First Nations language teachers’ programs, the development of curriculum and resource materials, and language proficiency development.” States a government news release.

Johnston using a baseball analogy described the announcement as getting on first base. “We're on first base, going for home. We've never been on base before. The idea is we're going to second [base] next and that will be a consultation back to the people.” Johnston says it was unfortunate that there were barriers and a lack of political will to make today happen earlier. “It's a very bold time, because language has always been very delicate and somewhat forgotten in some cases, when it comes to government-to-government priorities.” “Unfortunately, in the past there's been barriers that have restricted our citizens from fully taking the opportunities on, and today we've brought those barriers down. It does take political will.”

First Nations leaders see the future of languages as very bright, Johnston stressed people will be able to learn a language to the proficiency they want. “The reality is there are going to be people who want to learn a certain amount of their language, there are ones who want to be fluent. We want to be respectful of where people are at, and be a place where people just want to be to hear the language.” “This is about our way of life, it's about our culture, its about our preservation, its about our identity. [Language] is the fundamental foundation that we stand on as First Nation people.” Johnston concluded.

(Dan Jones Whitehorse Jan. 17, 2018)