The Council of Indigenous Peoples organized a delegation to Canada to conduct a trip of policy inspection and observation from July 1st to July 10th. A policy dialogue was held on July 5th.
The theme of the event wss "Taiwan and Canada Bilateral Language Revitalization Promotion and Development". Mr. Paul Pelletier, Director-General of Indigenous Languages, Community and Identity, Canadian Heritage, shared the current situation and development of aboriginal languages in Canada. About 60% of the Inuit can speak their native language, the First Nations about 21.3%, and the Métis 1.7%. Canada passed the Aboriginal Language Act in 2019. The purpose is to support the preservation, revitalization and maintenance of the vitality of the indigenous languages. Mr. Wei-cheng Hsu, CEO of the Indigenous Languages Research and Development Foundation, delivered a presentation on the development policy of indigenous languages in Taiwan, explaining the history of Taiwan's language policy and sharing the development of indigenous languages after the passage of Indigenous Languages Development Act in 2017.
CIP Minister Icyang Parod pointed out that the legislation and development of indigenous languages of Taiwan and Canada are very similar, and there are many things worth learning from each other. Taiwan’s Indigenous Languages Development Act promotes the measurement and achievements of indigenous languages rectification through the use of ethnic languages in the public sector, the training system for ethnic language teachers, the certification system for ethnic languages, the media and research institutions.
Minister Parod further stated that the policy dialogue has been successful in promoting the continued and in-depth cooperation between Taiwan and Canada and establishing a sound platform for exchange.
