International Decade of Indigenous Languages

April 22, 2022

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, spoke at the Canadian launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. Her Excellency joined Indigenous leaders, academics, diplomats, representatives from various organizations and youth to mark this significant milestone. The event, entitled Languages of the Land, was co-hosted by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Canada Council for the Arts.

For more information on the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, visit Indigenous Languages Decade (unesco.org).

A group photo at the International Decade of Indigenous Languages event.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, spoke at the Canadian launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0073-007
The Governor General speaks at a podium.

The event was held at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Ottawa.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0073-028
The Governor General speaks at a podium.

Her Excellency joined Indigenous leaders, academics, diplomats, representatives from various organizations and youth to mark this significant milestone.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0073-034
The Governor General speaks at a podium.

The Governor General spoke of the importance of language preservation in furthering reconciliation at the inaugural event, “Languages of the Land.”

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0073-040
A woman sings into a microphone while a man plays guitar.

“Every Indigenous language spoken in Canada is as unique as the people and land that helped shape it.”

- Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0073-045
A man plays a string instrument.

As the United Nations believes that more work is needed to protect, revitalize, preserve and promote Indigenous languages, it has designated the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0073-051
A woman sings into a microphone while a man plays guitar.

The initiative aims to raise global awareness about the importance of Indigenous languages for sustainable development, peacebuilding and reconciliation, and to mobilize further resources for the support and promotion of Indigenous languages worldwide.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0073-055

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