At the second edition of the Forum on First Nations Language Rights, held in Saint-Sauveur on September 4 and 5, 2024, the Chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL), gathered and adopted an historic declaration on First Nations languages rights. This declaration sets the course by defining the power it confers on us to exercise our right to self-determination. Our First Nations languages are fundamental to identities and must be protected, recognized, and transmitted to future generations. This is our responsibility; we must take concrete action now.
The legal traditions of First Nations are very much alive and must be recognized. The Chiefs are mobilized in this affirmation movement, and resolute in their intention to maintain and revitalize the languages of our ancestors to ensure they are passed on to future generations. Despite the persistent shortcomings and challenges in our relationship with the Quebec government, we have before us an opportunity to act differently, in accordance with our rights and aspirations, and we must seize it.
With adoption of the Indigenous Languages Act, we understood that we must keep informed about the issues and developments that impact our languages.
The Regional Committee on First Nations Languages (RCFNL) was created in 2020 by the AFNQL. The FNEC hosts the RCFNL in order to support operations and administration activities for the AFNQL. Major decisions will take place during meetings with representatives from the communities.
In August 2022, the Chiefs of the FNQL adopted the resolution 05-2022, in support of the Regional Committee on First Nations Languages. In September 2022, Chief Sipi Flamand accepted the appointment as AFNQL head language portfolio holder and to serve on the Chiefs Committee on Languages at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).
In support of First Nations and in collaboration with them, the mission of the Regional Committee on First Nations Languages is to contribute to the maintenance and revitalization of their ancestral languages.
That all First Nations have meaningful opportunities to live their cultures and learn their languages.
Our languages are based on the land. Our humble and respectful relationships with the land and between Nations must be the basis for the actions and the decisions we take with our languages.
Our languages need us to prosper. We must be persistent and courageous in our mission if we wish to transmit and preserve them for current and future generations.
Inspired by the knowledge and know-how of of our ancestors and our Elders, we are committed to working together to reach our common objectives, by striving to offer the very best of ourselves. Now, as in the past, we must work together to ensure the survival of our languages.
Taking into account resolution 05-2022 and since January 2023’s strategic planning exercise, we have outlined the following mandates: