Fewer Indigenous-language speakers, but younger people are learning

OTTAWA — The number of people who speak an Indigenous language has fallen overall in Canada, but the figure grew for the country’s youngest generation, new census data suggests.

Wednesday's census release on language comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government has described promoting and preserving Indigenous languages as a priority. In 2019, it passed legislation that it said would assist with revitalization. The census data suggests that among the greatest generation, people 94 or older, the number of Indigenous-language speakers fell to 120 last year from 575 in 2016, while among the interwar generation of people aged 76 to 93, that number dropped to 9,230 from 14,120.

"Those orange shirts are very bright," said Lewis, referring to the colour people have come to wear to honour residential school survivors on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. As for generation X, 41 to 55-year-olds who were born between 1966 and 1980, the number of Indigenous-language speakers fell to 48,280 from 50,975 five years earlier, according to the census data.

The 2021 census saw an increase in the number of Indigenous communities declining to participate in the census.

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Fewer Indigenous-language speakers, but younger people are learningThe number of generation Alpha members — children aged eight or younger — who can speak an Indigenous language grew from 11,715 to 28,755
Source: SooToday - 🏆 8. / 85 Read more »

Fewer Indigenous-language speakers, but younger people are learningThe number of generation Alpha members — children aged eight or younger — who can speak an Indigenous language grew from 11,715 to 28,755
Source: SooToday - 🏆 8. / 85 Read more »