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Language by the numbers

Most aboriginal languages still in decline, says StatsCan

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services


Hay River (Dec 16/02) - The latest Statistics Canada figures draw a bleak picture of aboriginal languages in the NWT.

The numbers show a continuing decline in the use of most - but not all - aboriginal languages.

NNSL Photo

The number of people in the NWT with an aboriginal language as a mother tongue in 2001 and 1996 were:

-Chipewyan - 300 in 2001, 510 in 1996;

-Dogrib - 1,835 in 2001, 2,000 in 1996;

-Gwich'in - 225 in 2001, 245 in 1996;

-North Slavey - 830 in 2001, 255 in 1996;

-South Slavey - 1,005 in 2001, 2,080 in 1996;

-Cree - 155 in 2001, 170 in 1996;

-Inuktitut - 760 in 2001, 835 in 1996;

-Ojibway - 65 in 2001, 20 in 1996.

Source: Statistics Canada


For example, the number of people with South Slavey as their mother tongue plunged from 2,080 in 1996 to 1,005 in 2001.

However, the number for North Slavey rose from 255 in 1996 to 830 in 2001.

Tu Nedhe MLA Steven Nitah, who chaired the review of the NWT's Official Languages Act, says he is generally not surprised by the figures from the 2001 census.

"Concerned, yes. Surprised, no," Nitah says.

The MLA says the special committee on languages found aboriginal languages are declining by one per cent a year across the board, which makes the StatsCan figures on North Slavey somewhat puzzling.

"It's a downward trend," he says. "We're in real dire straights with languages."

As for South Slavey, Nitah says the StatsCan figures are consistent with what his committee discovered in its two-year study. However, he says the decline of South Slavey did not happen in the last five years, but was a gradual process over many years.

Asked for the reasons for the decline, Nitah responds, "English, English, English."

All over the world, English is becoming predominant at the expense of other languages, he notes. "The NWT is no different."

And he says traditional South Slavey regions have had more contact with English for a longer period of time than other more isolated parts of the NWT.

Nitah says Gwich'in and Inuvialuktun are among the NWT aboriginal languages in the most precarious situation. And while he notes Dogrib is among the strongest aboriginal languages, elders are concerned that proficiency is declining among younger speakers.

The final report of the special committee reviewing the Official Languages Act will be delivered to the Legislative Assembly in the spring.

Nitah says it will be a very comprehensive report. "It will make news."

Across Canada in 2001, the largest aboriginal language groups were Cree (80,000 people), Inuktitut (29,700) and Ojibway (23,500).

More complete information on aboriginal languages will be released by Statistics Canada on Jan. 21.