There are fourteen First Nations, representing eight language groups, in what is referred to under colonial law as the Yukon Territory (YT). The Languages Act (2002) establishes English and French as official languages of the territory and recognizes the need to preserve, develop, and enhance Indigenous languages. Yet, the Act affirms that everyone has the right to use English, French, or Indigenous languages in any debates and other proceedings of the Legislative Assembly and allows for Government services to be provided in Indigenous languages.
In 1990, the Council of the Yukon First Nations (CYFN) entered into the Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA) with the territorial and federal governments. It is understood as a political rather than a legal agreement. There are sections concerning language aimed to promote “the recording and preservation of languages,” and oral histories of First Nations Peoples (McIvor et al., 2022).
The Yukon Education Act (2002) recognizes that the Yukon curriculum must include the cultural and linguistic heritage of Indigenous Peoples and the multicultural heritage of Canada. The Act addresses the educational needs of Yukon First Nations. The Minister may authorize an educational program or part of an educational program to be provided in an Indigenous language upon request from a School Board, Council, school committee, Local Indian Education Authority or, if there is no Local Indian Education Authority, from a Yukon First Nation. In section 52, steps are outlined to address the needs of Indigenous languages, including developing instructional materials and the training Indigenous language teachers. Several schools in the Yukon offer courses in Indigenous languages, as listed here.
Video: Yukon’s curriculum and Yukon First Nations by Yukon Education
Supporting Indigenous language education and revitalization, the CYFN also entered into the Joint Education Action Plan (2014-2024), which builds on the 2012 Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CYFN, Yukon, and Canada. Seeking to increase achievement for Yukon First Nations students, the action plan focuses on strengthening language and culture education (McIvor et al., 2022).
Additionally, the Yukon Native Language Centre is administered by the CYFN and is funded by the Yukon territorial government with a mandate to support language revitalization in the territory.
References
McIvor, O., Chew, K., & Hemlock, K. (2022). Legislation, regulation and policies concerning the revitalization of Indigenous languages in Canada and Internationally. Assembly of First Nations.