The provincial government announced a two-year extension of the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction with the federal government.
The province says it will move forward on grant commitments of $1.5 million under the French Second Language Revitalization Program. It will also see $1.2 million go towards the Program for the Enrichment of French in Education.
“These programs enhance the linguistic and cultural identities of students so they can continue their studies in French and use the language throughout their lives,” said Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen.
The First Nations in Treaty 2 Territory says they are feeling left out in the cold regarding the announcement.
Grand Chief Eugene Eastman says they receive very little funding to preserve their languages. As a result, their school-based language programs are limited.
“We have the same needs as other language groups but the difference, we have nowhere to go home to relearn our language, this is our home. Our schools need proper funding to teach our languages, like the French and the minority groups who live in our territory,” said Eastman.
Eastman added, “Every school division with Indigenous students, should have an Indigenous language programs. To date, there are very few Indigenous language programs in Manitoba; this should change, as a measure of reconciliation.”
Ojibway is the primary language spoken in Treaty 2 First Nations communities, followed by Dakota and Cree.
