November 2025 The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (the Commission) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) have formalized a strategic partnership to strengthen Indigenous language revitalization efforts. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalized August 2025, reflects a shared commitment to Indigenous‑led language revitalization, grounded in reciprocal learning and […]
Read MoreOn this historic occasion of the Commission’s first Global Indigenous LanguagesSummit, WAVES 2025, a message from the Right Honourable Mark Carney,Prime Minister of Canada, recognizes the importance of Indigenous languages andcultures in shaping Canada’s identity.
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September 2024 The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (the Commission) was fortunate to have been invited by the Chief Executive, of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), Ngahiwi Apanui Barr, to celebrate and participate in Māori Language Week held from September 14-21, 2024. Each year Aotearoa celebrates te […]
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March 2025 – Honolulu, Hawai’i At the 2025 International Conference on Language Documentation and Conservation (ICLDC) in Honolulu, over 400 attendees came together to tackle an immediate world-wide concern: the survival of Indigenous languages in the face of displacement, urbanization, and intergenerational loss. What was emphasized over the course of the gathering —revitalization is not […]
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Commission Hosts Side Event on Indigenous Languages Data at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) April 2025 – New York, NY The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages was honoured to co-host an important dialogue on best practices in evaluating and monitoring the health of Indigenous languages around the world. Held […]
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(June 2024 – Cardiff, Wales) In June, the International Association of Language Commissioners (IALC) held its 10th anniversary conference in Cardiff, Wales, shining a spotlight on the efforts to protect and promote minority languages worldwide. As a new member, the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages attended this international event, which brought together language […]
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The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (OCIL) jointly organized a side event with the Government of Canada (Canadian Heritage-Patrimoine canadien) during the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the UN Headquarters in New York. Commissioner Ronald Ignace told a global assembly of Indigenous Peoples that Indigenous Peoples have the heart-felt desire to […]
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