NS Soon to Have Three Official Languages

Mi'kmaq is Nova Scotia's first language and soon it will be officially recognized as such.

Nova Scotia will introduce legislation next spring to help preserve, revitalize, and promote it. 

The number of people who can speak Mi'kmaw is in rapid decline and the Mi'kmaw language is at risk. The government will start working immediately with Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, the collective voice for Mi'kmaq education, and other Mi'kmaq organizations and communities to develop legislation to support this effort.

"Language is a fundamental aspect of cultural identity and the Mi'kmaw language reflects the culture of the First Peoples of this province," said Karla MacFarlane, Minister of L'nu Affairs. "Mi'kmaw language revitalization is critical to understanding and preserving Mi'kmaw culture and supports ongoing reconciliation.”

The Province will support efforts to teach and preserve the language in schools and communities by reinforcing the reconciliation work undertaken by the Treaty Education Nova Scotia initiative and through the collaborative development of legislation to ensure that hearing, seeing, and speaking the language becomes a normal part of life in Nova Scotia.

The oldest of Mi'kmaq elders in Nova Scotia says, “It's the right thing to do because the language comes from this land, and from the people.” Elder Silipay Denny of Eskasoni says, “People are losing our language, and it's been a long fight to keep it alive. This legislation will reinforce the importance of us and our language.”

In 2019, a Mi'kmaw Language Task Team, represented by the Province and Mi'kmaq, engaged all Mi'kmaw communities and the Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Centre to create The Mi'kmaw Language Initiative.

Find a number of helpful Mi'kmaw language apps at https://www.kinu.ca/mobile-apps.

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