Truth, reconciliation and the resilience of Indigenous languages

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

This day was created in 2021 in direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 80, which urged the Canadian government to establish a commemorative day to honour the survivors of residential schools, their families and communities and to ensure the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process. 

September 30 also coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots initiative that started in Williams Lake, British Columbia, and has evolved into a nationally recognized movement. The story of Phyllis Webstad having her shiny new orange shirt taken from her on her first day at residential school has inspired many to participate in acts of remembrance, reflection and reconciliation. The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced. This day reminds us that “Every Child Matters.”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report, titled “What We Have Learned” highlights the intergenerational impacts of residential schools, writing that “genuine reconciliation will not be possible until the broad legacy of the schools is both understood and addressed.”

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation reports that, for over 150 years, the Canadian government and churches operated residential schools, forcibly removing over 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children from their families and communities. Many never returned. These underfunded and overcrowded institutions aimed to assimilate Indigenous children, resulting in widespread abuse and the loss of traditions and cultures. The trauma inflicted by these schools continues to impact Indigenous communities today.

For example, the residential school system disrupted the transmission of Indigenous languages and cultures across generations by forbidding Indigenous children from using their languages. The lasting intergenerational effects of these policies have placed Indigenous languages in Canada at risk, with several now being classified as endangered.

The 2021 Census of Population found that there were about 14,020 people who reported learning an Indigenous language as a child and, while they were still able to understand it, they could no longer speak it well enough to conduct a conversation. In language research and revitalization work, this situation is sometimes described using the concept of “silent speakers.” 

The First Peoples’ Cultural Council notes that there are many kinds of silent speakers, including people who spoke their Indigenous language before attending residential school and people who grew up hearing and understanding their language, but do not speak it.

In 2021, silent speakers accounted for 7.6% of the 185,510 people with an Indigenous mother tongue. Furthermore, silent speakers were disproportionately represented among people aged 50 years and older compared with active speakers, a pattern consistent with generations directly affected by the residential school system.

By virtue of their receptive fluency, silent speakers possess a sophisticated “ear” for their languages, allowing them to verify the correct pronunciation and traditional cadence. Silent speakers can serve as a vital bridge between fluent Elders and new learners.

In stark contrast to the experiences of generations of children who attended residential schools where Indigenous languages were forbidden and suppressed, many children now have access to Indigenous language instruction at elementary and secondary schools.

In 2023/2024, there were 62,928 students in public elementary and secondary schools participating in regular Indigenous language programs, up from 46,341 in 2013/2014. Indigenous language immersion programs also continue to grow, with 9,063 students in 2023/2024, about 2,000 more students than a decade earlier.

More information is available on Statistics Canada’s Statistics on Indigenous Peoples portal, a central location where users can find links to data and information products related to First Nations people, Métis and Inuit. 

For more resources and information, visit the Government of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation webpage.

You can also explore the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the Legacy of Hope Foundation, where survivors, their families, educators, researchers and the public can examine the residential school system more deeply with the goal of fostering reconciliation and healing.