Evidence of meeting #93 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was interpretation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
Really. Okay.
There must be some languages that they don't have training for. I feel like sometimes we're trying to put the cart before the horse. Perhaps if we were to allow for these languages to be spoken, and the need for translation to be there that quickly, we would get to a point where people would be interested in taking formal classes. We would figure out a way to get to the perfect eventually. That's basically what I'm trying to get at.
In closing, I just want to return to what my colleague David Graham was kind of asking about. In our first step, what do you feel, as an advocate for your language, would be a satisfactory place to start? I think simultaneous translation would be great. AI might be able to help down the road, but at this step and this juncture, what do you think would be satisfactory for us to start?
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
I think the first immediate step is to make sure that the space and the technology exist in the House, in Parliament, to allow for that.
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
I would have preferred Priscilla being in that room rather than being at the back—that kind of thing.
I want to add one thing about indigenous languages, following your comments. I've attended Assembly of First Nations meetings over the last 30 years. I've seen standing ovations for politicians many times in those assemblies. The biggest one I ever saw was when the Prime Minister announced that there would be an indigenous languages act. He got a rousing standing ovation for that announcement.
So if you're serious about protecting and revitalizing indigenous languages in this country, well, let's move forward. I don't know what the content of Minister Joly's legislation will be. Much to my surprise, I haven't been consulted on the preparation or development of the legislation, unfortunately. I don't know if what we're trying to do here could be included in that legislation. I don't know. I haven't seen what's in the works at that end.
I'm hoping that we can deliver on this, because it's dangerous to abuse the trust of people. I think we're at a period of time, after 150 years, when we're no longer allowed to abuse the trust of indigenous peoples.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Just following up on the indigenous languages legislation, do you have any idea, or have you been given any notice, of when that legislation might be forthcoming?
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
I have no idea. As I said, I haven't been consulted. I have seen what Senator Joyal is proposing. That's basically programs and so on. If we want something meaningful, then we need to include meaningful stuff in it. But I haven't been consulted, so—
Conservative
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
—as well as I'm sure other members of Parliament, and certainly across the country. I appreciate that.
You talked earlier about creating words for hockey and things like that, and words for Parliament as well. Is there a formalized process in which some of these words are created or is it a traditional practice with community members and elders, or is it an as needed type of thing? How does the language develop? Is it developed naturally or is there a process as well?
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Our institutions are the elders; they're the speakers. I think that's the main area or source for the development of language. It takes time because you need to sit down with them, explain what you want in a word, explain the concept. Once they get it, they sometimes come up with four or five words that would fit. It's up to them to determine exactly which is better.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
It's a collaborative, I guess. I find that fascinating.
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
We had a Cree language commission for some time, but it doesn't exist anymore.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Would the people who were involved with that still be active, so that we could potentially hear from them as future witnesses?
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
That's excellent.
That leads into my next question. You mentioned that the Cree Nation Government deliberates almost entirely, if not entirely, in Cree. Are there translation services for that into either English or French, or is it exclusively done in Cree?
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
That's the reason the Cree language is so strong today, because all of our deliberations are in Cree. The younger generation is compelled to maintain that language because of that. Only the regional government, which is composed of 11 Cree and 11 non-Crees, translates English, French, and Cree.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Mr. Chair, they're not on our list of potential witnesses right now, but perhaps that's a group we could consider inviting in future.
I want to conclude by thanking you for joining us and for your comment earlier about attempting to have your language taken away from you during the terrible residential schools in our history and for advocating and being a voice for the language. I think it's very meaningful.
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
After 10 years in residential school, I promised myself two things: One was to go back into the bush, which I did for two years. The other was that I was determined to reconcile with the people who put me away for 10 years, and this is another attempt at doing that. Thanks.
