Celebrating Indigenous languages in Canada

Indigenous Peoples have consistently emphasized the importance of language as the primary tool to share culture, world views and values as well as pass them on to future generations. In Canada, more than 70 distinct Indigenous languages are spoken by First Nations people, Métis and Inuit. 

In 2021, approximately one in eight Indigenous people (237,420 people) reported speaking an Indigenous language well enough to conduct a conversation. 

Indigenous languages are official languages in some territories in Canada. For example, Nunavut has four official languages: Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English and French. In 2021, more than two-thirds (68.7%) of Nunavut residents could conduct a conversation in Inuktitut, while a much smaller proportion (1.4%) could do so in Inuinnaqtun. 

Indigenous languages in Canada are considered at risk, with several being classified as endangered. As documented by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, this risk is the result of intergenerational impacts of cultural genocide and discriminatory colonial policies, most notably residential schools.

While most Indigenous languages have experienced declines over a five-year period, some experienced a revitalization with large proportional growth. For example, the number of Indigenous speakers of Haisla, Halkomelem, Heiltsuk and Michif all grew by one-third (+33.3%) or more from 2016 to 2021. 

In addition, the number and share of Indigenous language speakers who learned their language as a second language continue to rise. In 2021, there were 65,680 Indigenous people who reported speaking an Indigenous language but did not report having an Indigenous mother tongue. This suggests that they learned the language as a second language. 

In 2021, second-language speakers accounted for over one-quarter (27.7%) of Indigenous language speakers overall, up 4,100 speakers (+6.7%) from 2016, when 24.8% of Indigenous language speakers had learned the language as a second language.

Indigenous language acquisition plays a key role in cultural continuity. In 2022, two-thirds (67%) of parents of Indigenous children aged 1 to 5 years reported it being very or somewhat important for their young children to know an Indigenous language. In the same year, 22% of Indigenous children aged 1 to 5 years (excluding those living on reserve) could speak or understand at least a few words of an Indigenous language. Almost all (90%) of them could speak or understand an Indigenous language in combination with a non-Indigenous language, while the rest could speak or understand only an Indigenous language.

For further reading

Statistics Canada released nine new reports on Indigenous languages in Canada in collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, providing relevant data on the vitality and patterns of language acquisition and use. Eight reports are framed around one of the major Indigenous language families in Canada—Algonquian, Athabaskan, Inuktut (Inuit), Iroquoian, Salish, Siouan, Tsimshian and Wakashan—and one report focuses on languages that are not part of any specific family (Haida, Ktunaxa [Kutenai] and Michif).

To learn more 

Listen to Eh Sayers Episode 16 - How Do You Say “Language Revitalization” in Cree?, where we speak with Randy Morin and Belinda kakiyosēw Daniels. In that episode, the guests share their knowledge of the Cree language with learners at the nêhiyawak Language Experience about the wisdom encoded in Indigenous languages, as well as the opportunities for these languages and the barriers they face.

Visit the Statistics on Indigenous peoples portal to view all of the agency’s data and analyses related to First Nations people, Métis and Inuit.