• Home Page
  • Make All Indigenous Languages Official In Canada

Make All Indigenous Languages Official In Canada

Improved Essays
Show More
I do not agree with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) request to make all indigenous languages spoken in Canada declared an official language. “Perry Bellegarde, who was elected National Chief of the AFN last fall, agrees it would not be easy to require translations of all indigenous languages to be printed on the sides of cereal boxes and milk cartons”. This quote from the second article points out the major fact that if we were to make over sixty languages official in Canada, every government document and product would need to translate their information into sixty indigenous languages. Translating documents and product information is not an easy task and requires a lot of money and time. Furthermore, from my experience when I visited Northwest Territories, I learned that the province has a hard time financially and timewise to translate every government document and product information into all their official languages. Northwest Territories chose to make some Aboriginal languages spoken in their area official and currently has eleven official languages. If Northwest Territories already has …show more content…
Moreover, it would be extremely strenuous for students to learn sixty-two languages throughout their educational experience. Learning indigenous languages is “no easy task, though. Cree is very complicated, and the same words can have different meanings depending on the intonation”. This quotation from the first article shows that in Cree (an indigenous language) words have different meanings based on the pitch or melody of the word. Cree also contains a lot of complex and long words such “as the Cree word for school [is] kiskinwahamatowikamik”. It is too much to ask for us to expect students to learn sixty indigenous languages when they can barely even learn

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    Essay On Poverty In Canada
    • 1453 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Essay On Poverty In Canada

    Poverty in Canada: An Issue of Human Rights How would someone survive if they couldn 't find a job? Even if they could, what if that job wasn 't enough to support them and their family? This is the reality that many people in poverty face, just trying to survive in Canada. They may be poor, but they aren 't recognized unless they 're sitting on a street corner begging for money, or on an advertisement for the poor in a third-world country.…

    • 1453 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Sheila Carr-Stewart Analysis
    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sheila Carr-Stewart Analysis

    According to the book’s publisher, McGill-Queen University Press, its authors include over “eighty elders from the five First Nations involved in Treaty 7 - the Bloods, Peigans, Siksika, Stoney, and Tsuu T'ina” . The first of these two articles, “A Treaty Right to Education” looks at the historical timeline regarding education in the treaties and how exactly they government of Canada has failed to provide education in reserves. This article argues that the Europeans failed to provide adequate education to the indigenous people as were promised in treaties one to seven which were negotiated between 1870 and 1877. The author goes into detail explaining the different ways in which the government failed to provide what it promised to survive which surprisingly is still occurring at the current time.…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    The Nisga's National Unity
    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Nisga's National Unity

    The Nisga’a agreement was formed when the canadian government and the Nisga’a Nation agreed that Nisga’a had rights to control 2000km of land and to govern themselves. This group of First NAtions were lucky to gain land as well as independence. The Nisga'a national unity grew tremendously because of the agreement, they were finally able to express their culture and religion. This nation gained self determination, and because of this their unity grew. This helped Canada's national unity grow because a culture/nation is able to express their themselves.…

    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Indian Act Essay
    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Indian Act Essay

    Canada would not be Canada if it were not for the land and wealth that indigenous peoples were deprived of in order for this country to grow. Palmater mentions that the land that rightfully belonged to the Indigenous peoples was unethically taken away from them for the purpose of the country’s farms, oil extraction, mining, and overall development. Both Bonspiel and Kassam argue that this was a cause of the British North America Act of July 1, 1867, which did not declare Canadian independence from Britain, and still allowed them to mistreat the Indigenous peoples by stealing their lands, territories, and resources. A nomadic lifestyle would presumably make one a disqualifier from land title, however even those indigenous nations that were not nomadic, were not Christian, a religion in which Europeans believed was a necessity to own land (Jhappan 6). Palmater also mentions that the Indian Act of 1876 was a large contributor to land claims.…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Quebec Sovereignty Essay
    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Quebec Sovereignty Essay

    For Canada to hold on to its national unity, it is essential that all Canadians have equal access to English and French in any part of the country. Canadians have the inherent right to live anywhere in the country that they would like and should be able to communicate and receive services in any language of their choice. The issue of language rights is also solely a Quebec issue. The Government of Canada will also have to negotiate with Western Canada who has not been particularly supportive bilingualism. It is very important that Canada functions as an equally bilingual bicultural nation in all regions of the country, and not give special preference to French in Quebec because that would further isolate and divide Quebec’s relationship with Canada, and risk having even more ties cut.…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Cultural Assimilation In Canada
    • 1185 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Cultural Assimilation In Canada

    In the past, there have been many cultural changing events that have helped contribute to today's society. Globalization has increased the spread of culture and the thought of one culture being superior to another has caused and will probably continue to cause problems worldwide. When one group starts to develop more power, sometimes they use it to try to kill other cultures. This could include changing people and trying to assimilate them like the First Nations, or physically killing everyone that is part of a certain group of people like the Aztecs or Jewish.…

    • 1185 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Mistreatment Of The Indigenous Peoples Of Canada
    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Mistreatment Of The Indigenous Peoples Of Canada

    The Indigenous peoples of Canada have been mistreated for years, yet only recently has our government began to rebuild this important and valuable relationship. Canadians are generally known for their welcoming attitudes and openness towards others, however this view has constantly been tested since the beginning of the twentieth century. The largest problem facing Canadians as a nation is the constant mistreatment and discrimination shown towards the Indigenous Peoples, who are the descendants of the original inhabitants of this land. This is such an important issue because we are taking away the fundamental rights of these people.…

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Quebec Independence
    • 1725 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Essay On Quebec Independence

    Traditionally, the claim that only as a sovereign nation would Quebec be able to protect the French language was one of the strongest arguments for independence. After all, the French language was the central element of the Quebecois identity, and it did seem to be at risk in the 1960s and 1970s, with immigrants adopting English as their language of choice, and many Francophones learning it out of necessity or pragmatism. Since then, however, Quebec has managed to secure the French language’s future by enacting strict language laws, and as a result, the French language is arguably healthier than it has ever been in Quebec. It has been possible for Quebec to take drastic action within Confederation on linguistic matters, and, as such, it is no longer accurate to claim that language protection constitutes an urgent need for…

    • 1725 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Immigrant Children Research Paper
    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Immigrant Children Research Paper

    Immigrant children are among the most stressed children of their generation when it comes to today's time. In the past decades the percentage of immigrant children has increased from 4.7 percent to 12.9 percent. This significant increase is putting more children into poverty and ultimately setting them up for either failure or success with no grey area in-between. There is also the anxious thoughts put into their minds about being in a new place with unfamiliar people or objects, even sounds. These children need to learn skills that they would have never even thought about learning which to them, is the ultimate source of their stress.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Aboriginal Education In Canada Essay
    • 1376 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Aboriginal Education In Canada Essay

    Higher education is a solution to combatting the developed social inequality in Canada, and can reverse the racist views a significant proportion of the population do not recognize in themselves. If Canadians had a mandatory Indigenous studies course they would be able to form a realistic understanding of the legacy of colonialism, and gain the ability to recognize stereotypical comments as inappropriate and a perpetuation of…

    • 1376 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Bill 101 Analysis
    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Bill 101 Analysis

    Bill 101 had some key provisions that affected day to day communications of many people in Quebec. The emphasis on the French language was determined to attain some hard goals, some of which were essentially met. Though these hard goals were met bill 101 has many qualitative implications The pathway to Bill 101 is one that started in the 60’s. During this time there was a cultural division in labour, accommodations for elites which were highly Anglophone, selling of resources to English and no governmental intervention.…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Lisa Monchalin The Colonial Problem Analysis
    • 875 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Lisa Monchalin The Colonial Problem Analysis

    textbooks). Not only is it important for schools to address the discrimination in classrooms, it is also important to educate students, starting at a young age, on the Indigenous cultures and on past colonialism so that non-Indigenous students are able to understand the differences, understand the oppression Indigenous persons faced in the past and develop respect for Indigenous cultures. In addition to recognizing and educating students on cultural differences, it is important for the government to provide an increase in funding for Indigenous schools as well as for non-Indigenous schools so that they are able to provide a greater number of resources for Indigenous students. These resources can include, but aren’t limited to, transportation to various institutions, better classroom environment (i.e. no mould or broken desks) and specific programs and clubs. By providing transportation Indigenous students are able to attain more academic opportunities that they may not otherwise have (i.e. post-secondary education).…

    • 875 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Cultural Genocide
    • 1005 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Cultural Genocide

    The cultural genocide at the hands of the Indian residential school system along with historic and present day oppression and abuse is a blood stain on Canadian culture and government. The government has made steps to atone and reconcile for the destruction it brought upon the First Nations community, however, I do not think enough has been done or ever will be done as long as the oppressor’s government institution is in place. It will ultimately be left up to the First Nations people to come together as a unit to rebuild the structure of their community. Indian Residential School System The Indian residential schools (IRS) were domestic terrorism hubs and locations ordained by the Canadian government and churches which were operated and enforced…

    • 1005 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Multiculturalism And Canadian Identity
    • 1271 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Multiculturalism And Canadian Identity

    Since the adoption in 1971, the Multiculturalism policy has been greatly debated about it’s expediency in Canadian society. Founded by settler two settler societies, Canada has been built on a foundation on cultural an ethnic diversity. Today, Canada has certainly become a nation of immigrants, but prior to the European colonization of Canada, a predominately homogenous ethnic group occupied Canada, the Aboriginals (or First Nations Peoples). Today after being dominated by Western European culture, Canada in now the home to a vast array of ethnic and culturally diverse peoples. Defining Canadian identity has proved to be a difficult task.…

    • 1271 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Importance Of English Language In The Philippines
    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Importance Of English Language In The Philippines

    The Philippine archipelago comprises of Filipinos who’s linguistically and culturally diverse. In fact, there are 171 living languages being spoken in the Philippines today. However, these languages do no merely reflect governmental and educational policies. The current constitution of Philippines states that both Filipino (Tagalog) and English are the official languages of the country. The concept of what language should be used as a medium of instruction is an occurring debate in the Philippines then and now.…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings