Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Feb. 6th, 2023

[Ronald E. Ignace]

No. It hasn't been a problem for us, but we've been very definitive that we won't allow interference in our work, because it's critical. Especially when we move towards managing the dispute resolution process, we cannot be seen to compromise the independence and the integrity of commission in that situation. We have to have balance. We cannot take sides. That's crucial for us.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Thank you for that.

The one thing we've heard about from many witnesses—you've probably heard it and have been watching the testimony as well—are the challenges.

I was in some first nations communities on the west coast—specifically, the Kitselas—and, first of all, they said, one of the challenges is capturing the language and knowledge from the elders. The elders are starting to pass away. Over time, the elders who are still able to speak the language just aren't there anymore, but the second challenge is to pass it on to the younger generation. That challenge is in finding those who are interested, who want to take up the language. How do you deal with both of those challenges?

That's a big answer to give in about 30 seconds.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Ronald E. Ignace]

Yes.

At the commission, we're ramping up our staff, and we will push forward on implementing our mandate and strengthening our support for indigenous peoples and the promotion of indigenous languages across the country, but I think that with the burden of the work there has to be a whole government approach, as well as a whole Canadian engagement in the reconciliation with indigenous peoples.

I say that, and I heard Murray Sinclair state that reconciliation is not an indigenous issue—it's a Canada issue. The whole country has to be mobilized to lift and rebuild indigenous communities and indigenous languages going forward, if we're to succeed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Zimmer.

Next is Ms. Atwin.

Ms. Atwin, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

I think I'm going in, Marc. I'm taking her place because she's having a problem with her headset.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Very good, Mr. Powlowski. It's over to you.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Over the years, I've talked to quite a few people who went to residential schools. Almost universally, when I asked them about it, the first thing they said was, “I got beaten for speaking my own language.”

In thinking about why that is, I mean, it's because probably the people who worked in those places weren't very nice—they were cruel and maybe they were sadistic—but I would have thought that the other reason was that they must have seen some connection between language and culture. If you wanted the kids to become European, then you had to get them to speak English, not to speak their own language. I wonder if you could talk to me a bit about the connection between language, culture and identity.

[Ronald E. Ignace]

First of all, I don't think it was merely the individuals who took that position in residential schools. It was supported by government to “take the Indian out of the child”, as has been stated.

I for one am a residential school survivor and an escapee from a residential school. I've taken the opportunity to re-establish my sub-office back in the residential school, to symbolize the reclamation of our languages across the country.

No, our language comes from the land. Our languages are embedded in the land. If I may say so, when you lose the resource, you have no opportunity to speak about that resource or about your history. Our languages are connected to who we are [Technical difficulty—Editor]

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

I beg your pardon, Commissioner.

Somebody has their microphone on. Please turn off your microphone.

Excuse me, Commissioner. Please continue.

[Ronald E. Ignace]

I've lost my train of thought.

If I misspeak and I [Witness spoke in Secwepemctsin]

[English]

I apologize if I caused anybody any heartache. I'm just here to try to best explain what the commission is trying to do to support the reclamation and revitalization of indigenous languages.

What was your question again...?

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Following up on that question—you started to talk about it—how close a connection do you think there is between the language and the land, and how much is relearning the language something you can do in the city, in an urban environment? How much do you have to be back on the land?

[Ronald E. Ignace]

I lived in the city for a while, in Vancouver. I ran away from residential school and I went to and stayed in Vancouver, but I went home.

I think all our people go back to their home. There, they have the opportunity to learn about and engage in the traditional practices that we have. I know we have people from the city coming to our community to engage in our traditional games, our traditional ceremonies and cultural practices, and our funeral services. There's always a connection—a deep connection—between our language and our culture, our lands and our customs and traditions. It's indivisible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Powlowski.

Mrs. Gill, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to get back to the purpose of the study, because I get the impression that we are straying from it a little, even though I acknowledge that language and culture are inseparable.

Commissioner, I'd like to comment on consultation. You said that in connection with your activities, you spoke with some ministers and parliamentarians. However, the thrust of the mandate is of course that it should be carried out in collaboration with first nations. I would therefore like to know whether you consulted first nations people, whether chiefs, band councils or organizations.

If so, where was this done? Did you consult anyone in Quebec?

Thank you.

[Ronald E. Ignace]

We have had invitations to speak at events in person or on video link, to provide interviews for local media and to meet with—

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Excuse me, Commissioner, but…

[Ronald E. Ignace]

If you'll allow me—

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Mrs. Gill, please allow the Commissioner to finish what he started. You keep interrupting him.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I know, but it's because he's not answering my question, Mr. Chair, and I only have two minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Yes, but you're the one doing most of the talking. Let him say something, please.

[Ronald E. Ignace]

When we've had the opportunity and the time, because of our focus, once again.... You can understand that we're building a complex organization here, and it's not easy work to conduct this. It takes a lot of effort and time, and we want to do the right thing.

Yes, we've met with indigenous organizations and indigenous chiefs and engaged with communities wherever and whenever we had the opportunity and—

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, but I am going to have to interrupt the witness because I haven't had an answer to my question.

I wanted to know whether he had carried out consultations, and specifically whether if people in Quebec had been consulted.

Could you answer that question, Commissioner?

And could not some of these requests come from you and not the press, for example? As the indigenous languages commissioner, do you, in connection with your work, want to meet representatives from band councils, chiefs or indigenous organizations, including in Quebec?

Thank you.

[Ronald E. Ignace]

Again, we've been able.... Whenever and wherever we can, we've been able to meet with indigenous organizations and go to indigenous communities. Our Inuit representative is from northern Quebec, and he has met with and spoken with Inuit people in Quebec, but we are not in a position to fully engage with communities at this stage. We can't get ahead of ourselves in the construction and the building of the commission. We have to be mindful of that, because that is our mandate: to establish that and to get our work done, so that we can get out and do these things.

We are—

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

You should also do it in collaboration with the first nations.