'Important' and 'symbolic' to speak Indigenous language in same Chamber that repressed their use, says Battiste

Speaking Indigenous languages in the same House of Commons Chamber that had historically tried to quash them can be a source of inspiration and can help revitalization efforts, says Liberal Jaime Battiste. Revitalization experts say having the languages spoken in Parliament can be effective and show the applicability of learning Indigenous languages. “There's times in the House where speaking your language can be deeply impactful for community members,” said Mr. Battiste (Sydney-Victoria, N.S.), noting the speech he gave in Mi’kmaq during a June 1 take-note debate regarding the discovery of bodies of 215 Indigenous children at the former site of a residential school in Kamloops, B.C. The translation for the speech was provided to the Translation Bureau by Mr. Battiste. He said when he made his speech, he thought the best way to honour those who spent years in the residential school system was to speak in Parliament in the same language the state had tried to “beat out” of survivors. “When I thought of how we could best honour our survivors of residential schools, I have to say to all the members of our House of Commons, on behalf of all who went and were mistreated, they were not successful,” he said in the Chamber in Mi’kmaq. “We are still here, we are resilient, we still speak our languages and we practise our culture.” Mr. Battiste told The Hill Times that speaking Indigenous languages in the Chamber can inspire others to speak their language and do it more often. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller has given a handful of speeches in the House of Commons in Mohawk. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade “I think that inspires our kids to be able to hear our languages spoken in the very same House that once tried to prevent that language from thriving and flourishing,” he said. Prior to becoming an MP, Mr. Battiste said he promised elders he would make his first speech in Mi’kmaq. “That was an important thing because so many of us are losing our languages across Canada and I felt that it was important and symbolic, as well as meaningful, to our community members,” he said. Having Indigenous languages simultaneously translated during House proceedings was an effort spearheaded by former Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette in the 42nd Parliament. Mr. Ouellette wished to make a speech in Cree in 2017 during Members' Statements and provided the House's Translation Bureau with the necessary translation two days before his planned statement on violence committed against Indigenous women, but the bureau said they could not give a “time appropriate translation” of his speech. Mr. Ouellette gave his speech in Cree anyways, however no translation was provided. Afterwards, he raised a point of privilege, arguing that his parliamentary privilege had been violated as other MPs and Canadians could not understand his speech. Then-House Speaker Geoff Regan ruled that the situation wasn't a prima facie case of privilege, remarking that Mr. Ouellette's right to speak wasn't at issue, but his right to be understood. Mr. Regan later wrote to the House Affairs Committee asking it to conduct a study on the use of Indigenous languages in the House. Since 2008, Inuktitut has been able to be spoken and simultaneously translated in the Senate. The committee recommended that an incremental process begin to allow for Indigenous languages to be translated in the House. The recommendation was approved by the House in a November 2018 vote. Mr. Ouellette was the first MP to have a speech in an Indigenous language simultaneously translated, which he made on June 28, 2019, about his support for the annual recognition of Dutch heritage day on May 5. Then-NDP MP Georgina Jolibois had a speech in Dene simultaneously translated on Feb. 1, 2019, about the 2016 La Loche massacre. Former NDP MP Georgina Jolibois helped push for the use of Dene in the House of Commons. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Others who have spoken an Indigenous language in the House of Commons include then-NDP MP Romeo Saganash in Cree and Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller (Ville-Marie-Le Sud-Ouest-Île-des-Soeurs, Que.) in Mohawk. Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia-Lambton, Ont.) asked Mr. Ouellette a question in Cree during the debate over the Indigenous languages bill to which he also responded in Cree. Mr. Battiste said having Indigenous languages spoken in Parliament helps with reconciliation efforts as it shows the institution is willing to accommodate other cultures and values. He noted that it isn't just in the speaking of the language, but also in allowing Mr. Battiste to wear a Mi’kmaq medallion instead of the required tie in the House. “I think part of reconciliation is working within systems to accommodate and promote other people's cultures and values and practices as part of entrenching them within the current rules,” he said. “What I have been able to do is to shift that focus and decolonize the House of Commons to a certain extent—I know that's gradual—but that's the work that we are doing under reconciliation to make sure that we are accommodating that we are proving a space for other people's cultures, languages, values.” Independent Senator Mary Jane McCallum (Manitoba) held an eagle feather when making a speech on the bill to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canadian law. The use of the feather was questioned by Conservative Senate Leader Donald Plett (Landmark, Man.). “I ask this very, very reluctantly. Very reluctantly. But we have rules in this chamber and one of them is not to allow any types of props. And I would consider what Sen. McCallum has there is a prop,” he said, asking Senate Speaker George Furey (Newfoundland and Labrador) to make a ruling on the issue. Sen. Plett later apologized for his intervention and took back his point of order. Queen's University professor Lindsay Morcom, who holds the Canadian Research Chair in language revitalization and decolonizing education, said it is “really important” for MPs to speak Indigenous languages in the House and offering simultaneous translation demonstrates that the languages are “valid,” “absolutely in current use,” and “part of the fabric of this land.” “It is absolutely connected to language revitalization efforts,” she said, noting there isn't a “panacea” to solve Indigenous language endangerment. “What needs to happen is the languages need to be present in various social spheres.” Past Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette raised a point of privilege that eventually led to the House Affairs Committee reviewing the use of Indigenous languages in Parliament. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade “Having them present in something as influential as Parliament, I think, does make a statement about the necessity and about the sophistication.” Prof. Morcom said having MPs speak Indigenous languages can be another way to inspire students to learn heritage languages. “They see that there are opportunities within workplaces as well as within communities to use the language,” she said. “These are languages that can be used in every facet of their life.” She said her hope is that with increased Indigenous representation in the House of Commons, it will lead to an increase in the presence of Indigenous languages in Parliament. Three new Indigenous MPs were elected in the Sept. 20 vote—NDP MPs-elect Blake Desjarlais (Edmonton Griesbach, Alta.) and Lori Idlout (Nunavut), and Conservative MP-elect Adam Chambers (Simcoe North, Ont.), according to the Canadian Press. “I would love to see go from something a bit more performative—still important because it emphasizes presence—but to something that's functional within our government because there are decisions made that impact disproportionally Indigenous people, particularly status people living on reserves, and so those decisions should be made with insight into the cultures and realities of those communities.” University of Victoria professor emerita Lorna Williams, an expert on Indigenous language revitalization, said when she first heard the Mohawk language used in the House she was “really moved.” “I thought it was really important,” she said, adding whenever Indigenous languages are present, it is a positive step towards reversing the process that has silenced Indigenous languages and made them “invisible.” She said it is helpful to have the languages spoken in Parliament to have them placed in a “natural place” and not “on the side or separate or only for special occasions.” “We have to be able to make Indigenous languages present and normal as any other language.” Prof. Williams said by having Indigenous languages used in the House of Commons with translation and interpretation, it demands that there are people who can perform the translations and that speak all three languages. Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu asked a question in Cree during the debate on the Indigenous languages bill in the 42nd Parliament. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade She said it will take “lots of collaborative work” to put in a system that can make translation possible for the many Indigenous languages. There are 58 Indigenous languages in Canada and more than 90 different dialects, according to the 2018 House Affairs Committee report. Prof. Williams noted there is a need to be mindful that while providing translation services for Indigenous languages in the House, it shouldn't take away resources from the small group that is working on language revitalization. University of Toronto professor Ryan DeCaire, who teaches Mohawk, said while having Indigenous languages spoken in Parliament helps to raise their awareness and show their use in the modern world, he said it doesn't “really help” those who are speaking the language already. “At the end of the day we need the languages to be spoken as a primary language in the home in Indigenous communities so that intergenerational transmission can be restored,” he said in an email. “Usually these things get lots of hype and media coverage, yet have little impact on language use in the home and in community domains.” Technical fixes needed for hybrid Parliament Since the 42nd Parliament, instances of MPs speaking an Indigenous language in the House have declined. Mr. Battiste said there has been a technical issue that has made speaking Mi’kmaq more difficult in the hybrid Parliament, noting that it was “a lot easier” to speak Mi’kmaq while physically present in the House of Commons. He said while making his speech, he can hear the English translation in his ear. “You could imagine how distracting that would be to be giving a speech in another language and hearing ... the interpretation of what you were saying in your ear simultaneously,” he said. “That's something, I hope, that they can work out.” He said the House has “quite easily” been able to accommodate him when he has said that he will be speaking Mi’kmaq. As he can both read and write Mi’kmaq, he said he doesn't have difficulty making a speech on short notice. He noted that usually he was given 24 hours to put together a speech. “For me to whip up a speech in both languages was not overly difficult for the time frame that they requested,” he said, noting he also relied on two members of his community to help with editing any speech he made in Mi’kmaq to translate it to English. nmoss@hilltimes.com The Hill Times MPs who have spoken Indigenous languages in the Commons Former Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette spoke in Cree on Jan. 28, 2019, about recognizing Dutch heritage day on May 5: ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑰᒥᑎᐣ, ᐅᓃᑳᓂ ᐲᑭᐢᑫᐧᐤ᙮ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᓂᓇᓈᐢᑰᒧᐣ ᑕ ᐊᔮᔮᐣ ᐆᒪ ᑕ ᐲᑭᐢᑳᐧᑕᒫᐣ ᐃᔨᑯᕁ ᑳ ᑮ ᐃᓯ ᐯ ᒥᓯ ᒣᑭᒋᐠ ᐆᑕ ᐆᒪ ᑳ ᑲᓈᑕᕁ ᐊᐢᑭᕀ ᑳ ᑮ ᑲᑫᐧ ᑫᐧᐢᑭᓇᐦᑭᐠ Netherlands ᑫ ᐃᑕᒥᐦᐠ᙮ ᑭᑳ ᑮ ᑯᐢᑯᐦᐅᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᔨᓯᔨᓂᐊᐧᐠ, ᐊᓂᒪ ᑖᐯᐧᐃᐧᐣ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᐁᓴ ᐆᑭ ᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᐄᐧᐢᑕᐋᐧᐤ ᒣᑭᐊᐧᐠ ᐆᒪ ᑫᐧᐢᑭᓂᑫᐃᐧᐣ᙮ ᒨᓯᒋ ᐊᐃᐧᔭᐠ ᒨᕀ ᑫ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑕᒼ ᐁ ᐋᑳᐧᐱᐟᓱᒋᐠ ᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᐢᑎᑲᐧᐢᑭᓯᓇᐠ, ᒫᑲ ᐊᐢᑌᐤ ᐊᓂᒪ ᐋᑳᐧᐱᓱᐃᐧᐣ᙮ ᓃᓵᐧᐤ ᑳ ᑮ ᐃᓯ ᓅᑎᓂᑐᕁ ᑳᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᐃᓯ, ᐊᔨᐋᐧᐠ ᐃᓯ ᓃᓱᒥᑕᓇᐤ ᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᐧᓂᐦᑖᐤ ᐅᐱᒫᑎᓯᐃᐧᓂᐋᐧᐤ᙮ ᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᓅᑎᓂᑫᐃᐧᔨᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᑲᐢᑭᐦᑕᒫᓱᐊᐧᐠ ᑫᔨᐁᐧᕁ ᐊᔨᓈᓀᐅᐧᓵᑊ ᐊᐧᐁᐧᓰᐦᐃᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᓵᒼ ᐁ ᑮ ᐯ ᐃᓯ ᐅᓈᐯᑳᓱᒋᐠ ᑳ ᒣᑳᐧ ᓅᑎᓂᑫᒋᐠ᙮ ᑮ ᐄᐧᒋᐦᐃᐁᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᑳᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᐃᑕ ᑳ ᑮ ᓅᑎᓂᑐᕁ ᐁᑲᐧ ᑳ ᐃᓯ ᐃᐧᔭᓯᐋᐧᒋᑳᑌᐠ, ᐃᑕ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐊᓂᐦᐃ ᑳ ᑮ ᐯ ᒥᓯᐊᐧᓈᒋᐦᐃᐦᒋᐠ Dieppe ᐊᐢᑮᐋᐧᐊᐧ, ᑳ ᐋᐧᓴᑫᐁᐧᒣᐸᔨᐠ Normandy ᑳ ᑮ ᐲᐦᑐᑫᐧᒋᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒦᓇ ᑳ ᑮ ᓅᑎᓂᑐᕁ ᐃᑕ Battle of Hong Kong ᑫ ᐃᒋᑳᑌᐠ ᐃᑕ ᑫᑳᐨ ᓃᓵᐧᐤ ᑭᐦᒋ ᒥᑖᑕᑐᒥᐟᓇᐤ ᐊᔨᓯᔨᓂᐊᐧᐠ ᐅᐦᒋ Winnipeg Grenadiers ᑳ ᐃᑎᐦᒋᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐊᓂᑭ Royal Rifles of ᒐᓇdᐊ ᑳ ᐃᑎᐦᒋᐠ ᑮ ᑭᐸᐦᐋᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᐃᑕ ᐊᓂᑭ ᐅᐦᒋ ᓭᑭᐸᒑᐧᓴᐠ᙮ ᑫᑳᐨ ᓂᑯᑖᐧᓱᓵᑊ ᐆᑭ ᑭᐸᐦᐋᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᑮ ᐯ ᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐄᐧᐊᐧᐠ ᐋᐦᐳ ᑮ ᐯ ᐋᐱᐦᑕᐃᐧ ᑯᓯᓵᓃᐊᐧᐠ᙮ English translation: Mr. Speaker, I am very thankful to have the opportunity to speak about the tremendous contributions made to Canada by those of Dutch heritage and the incredible sacrifices made by Canadians in the liberation of the Netherlands. What might surprise people is the fact that many indigenous people contributed to this liberation. One might not think that there is much of a link between indigenous people and Dutch people, but there definitely is. In the Second World War as a whole, more than 200 indigenous soldiers lost their lives. Indigenous soldiers earned a minimum of 18 decorations for bravery in action. They participated in every major battle and campaign, from the disastrous Dieppe landings to the pivotal Normandy invasion and the Battle of Hong Kong, where 2,000 members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada became prisoners of war of the Japanese. At least 16 of those prisoners were first nations people and Métis. Former NDP MP Georgina Jolibois spoke in Dene on Feb. 1, 2019, about the Dene High School shooting in 2016: Churchıll Rıver k’oldhere, łets’ełts’el ts’ų dzı̨ zaa k’e dła nǫnęnę ts’ęn łá k’e hultaı, 2016 ła ke tı, łake sekuı honełtęn hu, łake cheléku asé łeghąldher nı̨, heł tth’ı łąsdı̨ nęn néłt’e, dene daılk’edhe nı̨,eya harajá nı̨, erıhtł’ıs kuę nı̨, dene hıgh s nı̨telas tu dųhų taghé nęnę hudher la, t’o, eyı kó hats’ı̨ samba k’odherı nedhe, ją ts’ı̨ chú Saskatchewan k’eya hı yas, eyı t’a łe haı̨dé ba soredłı hu, eyı t’a nałtsı dene hu ambulance hu eyı fıre department, eyı tth’ı ba soredłı́ bets’edé la dų dzı̨ne k’e, t’a ba yastı hadé, sekuı hodónołtęn dene eyı seku, ya hı sekuı hodonełtęn dene yets’enı̨ hel tth’ı, hogaı ts’ı̨ dene horets’edadı́, eyı sekuı honełtęn dene, sehel hadı u eyı dłąt’u sekuı dets’aı̨nı̨, sekuı ts’edaı̨nı̨ sekuı sǫt’ulu deltth’ı halyá, eyı t’ąt’u benı̨ ıga hudher hu hel tth’ı sı̨nı̨yé sı, t’ąt’u sekuı ts’edarı̨nı̨yé łasdı̨ ıkué ots’ı̨ sekuı honełtęn dene łą benęn ts’ęn nadéł la, bekadanelnı̨ ha kolé eyı t’ahı honodher tł’̨aghe, dądel hu, sekuı hodonełtęn ha ha, nı̨deł hu,eyı bel, bı̨ al dathëts’ı̨ la eyı dųhų dłahot’ı̨, k’odheré nedhe Saskatchewan hots’ı̨ ją Federal yenalnı̨ la lohot’ı̨ a dų ha marsı herésı̨ sı dų yastı sı, ma English translation: Mr. Speaker, on January 22, 2016, two teachers and two young men lost their lives and others were injured when a shooter entered the Dene High School in La Loche. In the three years since that date, both levels of government have honoured their lives, the first responders and worked to move forward from the tragedy in my home town. Today, I want to recognize the teachers, support staff and community members who saved so many lives. Many teachers have told me privately the things they did to make sure the kids were safe, even when it meant putting themselves in harm's way. I thank them for their quick thinking and commitment to their students. Though many of these teachers have left to take care of their mental well-being, they insisted on staying on to complete the year and help the kids they saved that day. Their actions have been forgotten by the Saskatchewan and federal governments in the past several years. Therefore, let us now take a moment to thank them for what they did. Liberal MP Marc Miller spoke in Mohawk on Feb. 7, 2019, about the Indigenous languages bill: Ó:nen aesewatahonhsí:yohste’ kenh nikentyohkò:ten tsi nahò:ten í:’i karihwayentáhkwen. Tyotyerénhton, í:kehre takwanonhwerá:ton’ akwé:kon ken:’en kanónhsakon sewaya’taró:ron tahnon wa’tkwanòn:weron’ tsi enhskwatahónhsatate’ ón:wa kenh wenhniserá:te. Í:kehre ó:ni taetewatenonhwerá:ton tsi yonkwaya’taró:ron raononhwentsyà:ke ne Ratirón:taks. Tahnon tehinonhwerá:ton ne Shonkwaya’tíson ne akwé:kon tehshonkwá:wi. Kén:’en tewaktá:’on akwahthárhahse’ ne Kanyen’kéha, nè:ne raotiwén:na ne Kanyen’kehá:ka. Enkhthá:rahkwe’ ne kayanerénhtshera aorihwà:ke nè:ne enkahretsyá:ron’ tsi yontá:tis onkwehonwehnéha Koráhne. Akwáh í:ken tsi onkwatshennónnya’te’ sha’akwate’nikonhrísa’ kén:’en kanónhsakon, taetewawennaté:ni’ ne ó:nen háti ónhka ok yetsyénhayens á:yenhre’ ayontá:ti’ ne onkwehonwehnéha. Yorihowá:nen ayehthina’tón:hahse’ ratikorahró:non tsi tewawennakwennyénhstha ne onkwehonwehnéha ne kèn:tho, kanaktakwe’niyò:ke Koráhne, kanáktakon tsi ratinorónhstha ne ratikorahró:non. Yawehronhátye, akwáh í:ken tsi sénha yorihowá:nen ne kí:ken kayanerénhtshera ne onkwehón:we raotirihwà:ke. Ratinyén:te ahatiwennahní:rate’ ne raotiwén:na, owén:na nè:ne wahoná:ti’ tókani wahonwatíhkwa’. Tentewarihwahskénha’ ne kí:ken kayanerénhtshera, kén:’en tahnon ó:ya kanáktakon. Enyonkwaya’takénha’ sénha ayonkwa’nikonhrayén:ta’ne’ ne kí:ken kayanerénhtshera. Enskarihwahserón:ni’ ne karihwaksèn:tshera tsi nahotiyé:ra’se’ ne onkwehón:we, tahnon enkanónhstate’ tsi sénha enkarihwakwénnyenhste’ ne raotiwén:na tahnon nihotirihò:ten ne onkwehón:we Korahne. English translation: Mr. Speaker, I ask all members in this assembly, listen well to the matter that has become my responsibility to speak about. I first want to greet and acknowledge everyone gathered in the House and thank them for listening to me today. I also want to acknowledge that we are meeting here on the traditional lands of the Algonquin people, and I thank the Creator for everything he has given to us. I am risen here to speak in Kanyen'kéha, the language of Kanyen'kehà:ka, the Mohawk people. I will speak about a law that encourages the speaking of indigenous languages in Canada. It greatly pleased me when we decided here in the House that we would provide translation when any member of Parliament wanted to speak in an indigenous language. It is important that we show Canadians that we respect native languages here, in the capital of Canada, in a place that Canadians cherish. Nevertheless, this law is much more important to the indigenous people. They are on a mission to strengthen the indigenous languages they lost or that were taken from them. We will debate this law here and in the other chamber. It will help us understand this law better. It will make amends for the wrongs that were done to the indigenous people and it will ensure that indigenous languages and cultures in Canada will be more respected. Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu asked a question in Cree on May 9, 2019, during debate on the Indigenous languages bill: ᐆ ᓃᑳᓂ ᐲᑭᐢᑫᐧᐤ ᓂᔭ ᐆᒪ ᐅᑳᐄᐧᒫᐤ ᐅᐦᒋ ᓃᓱ ᓂᑖᓂᓯᐣ ᓂ ᒪᒥᐦᒋᓯᐣ ᐆᒪ ᑕ ᑲᑫᐧᒋᐦᑫᒧᔮᐣ ᐆᑕ ᑖᓂᓯ ᐆᒪ ᐲᑭᐢᑫᐧᐃᐧᐣ ᑳ ᐄᐧᒋᐦᐃᑯᓈᐣ ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐘᐠ ᐁᑲ ᐋᐱᐦᑕᐃᐧᑯᓯᓵᓇᐠ? English translation: Mr. Speaker, as a mother of two non-status Métis daughters, I am proud to ask the first question in the House of Commons in the Cree language. What benefit will the bill have for the Cree and Métis nations? Then-Green MP Jenica Atwin spoke in Wolastoqey on Feb. 25, 2020, about the House Translation Bureau: Wolasuweltomuwakon, Nuhkomossok naka nmuhsumsok, Woliwon ciw latuwewakon, Kisi monuwehkiyeq ‘ciw nilun, nilun oc tokec nuleyutomonen, ciw weckuwapasihtit. Nit leyic. English translation: Maliseet language honour code, grandmothers and grandfathers, thank you for our language that you have saved for us. It is now our turn to save it for the ones who are not born yet, may that be the truth. Liberal MP Jaime Battiste spoke in Mi’kmaq on June 1, 2021, about the discovery of 215 bodies at a former residential school: Msit Nokumaq Ke’skmnaq kaqewistuan Pasi’k ketu Tlimuloq Kejutuek tan telji olai’utkik Kikmnaqi’k Kejituek tan telji olo’ta’snik mijuajijk aq pukolkik mu apajitakik Aq nutaq me’ msit Kapalnukw, akatmnew tan teluwi’tmi’tij kisikuk L’joqotukemkewey kis na reconciliation. Nasik tan anki’tetmanek tal kis miawalkik telji pukolkik tan weni’k Wejitajik residential schools Amujpa kinawa’ta’qik msit wen wula wenji’kwuom, ujit msit tan weji’tasnik aq olaitkik mu kespu’tuwu’wek, me’ elmotiek, me’ mimaju’lltiek, me’ lnuistikw, me lnu’tasltikw. Keji’tu mu na naqmasi’anuk tan wejitaik, Nasik pipanmlnoq siawi lnuitasimk, siawi lnusltinoq aq mu iajpu awantasu tan weni’n aq tan wejitaik. Aq Nekmey, teli siawi’ta’tisnuk elmiknek, mawi apoqnmatultinej Kisi Api’jatisnu’kw Taqu’we’ entu’kpnek Msit Nokmaq English translation: All my relations, before I conclude my thoughts today, I just want to tell everyone that we understand how mistreated our indigenous families have been. We understand how mistreated our children were and how so many did not come home. We need all of government to take a look at how we can restore the balance to our communities or what is often referred to as “reconciliation”. However, when I thought of how we could best honour our survivors of residential schools, I have to say to all the members of our House of Commons, on behalf of all who went and were mistreated, they were not successful. We are still here, we are resilient, we still speak our languages and we practise our culture. I know it has been difficult, with what we have been through, however I am asking indigenous people to keep their culture strong, to keep speaking their languages, and to never forget who they are as an indigenous person and what we have been through. That is how we flourish and survive moving forward by working together. We can bring back some of what was lost, all my relations.

‘Important’ and ‘symbolic’ to speak Indigenous language in same Chamber that repressed their use, says Battiste

'I think that inspires our kids, to be able to hear our languages spoken in the very same House that once tried to prevent that language from thriving and flourishing,' says Liberal Jaime Battiste.

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