Highlights
In 2022/23, the Province provided nearly $35 million in new funding to the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) and First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation (FPCF) to support First Nations languages, arts, and cultural heritage revitalization programming and operations. This initial investment builds upon a landmark $50 million grant provided to FPCC in 2018 to address threats to language vitality and help revitalize First Nations languages in B.C.
Of this new funding, the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills provided $2.6 million to boost the Youth Empowered Speakers Program. The program provides First Nation students in B.C. who are studying education and early childhood education with one-on-one mentor-apprentice language learning and funding to support their post-secondary studies. The program addresses the need to develop new First Nations language speakers to become immersion teachers who will work in First Nation communities to deliver community immersion programming across the province.
PSFS also supports the Indigenous Language Fluency Degree framework that was initiated by First Nations and First Nations-mandated post-secondary institutes, and which provides a pathway for First Nations, First Nations-mandated institutes, and public post-secondary institutions to collaboratively establish and deliver degree programs in First Nation languages.
Additional funding is required to support the current First Nation language programs and for the expansion of the Indigenous Language Fluency Degree framework, which is a unique initiative, distinct from other post-secondary language programs, that has fluency in an Indigenous language as its primary learning outcome and purpose.
The information in the 2022 Report on the Status of BC First Nations Languages helps to inform progress/metrics.
Indicators
- Amount of funding provided: In 2022, the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation provided $25 million investment over three years to FPCC towards its language, arts and cultural heritage revitalization programming, as well as $7.15 million to FPCC in new 2022-2023 operational funding. In 2022, the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills provided funding of $2.6 million to FPCC for language revitalization through the Youth Empowered Speakers Program.
The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills also provided $1.5 million in 2022 to the First Nations Education Steering Committee for development and implementation of the Indigenous Language Fluency Degree framework. The Ministry provided an additional $1.6 million for a variety of community-based language revitalization and preservation initiatives from the Indigenous Skills Training and Education program fund, the majority of which was administered by the First Nations Education Steering Committee through the Post-Secondary Partnerships Program. The StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan commits to ongoing funding for the Indigenous Language Fluency Degree and for Michif language revitalisation. - Implementation project underway: Six Indigenous Language Fluency Degree pilots are underway. The first degree approved under the framework was the Bachelor of nsyilxcən Language Fluency Degree, with the first students to receive this degree graduating in June 2023.
How are we working together?
The Ministries of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and are continuing to work with the First Peoples Cultural Council, First Nations Education Steering Committee, Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association, \and Métis Nation BC. The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills is providing funding support and working with post-secondary institutions to facilitate their support of the Indigenous Language Fluency Degree framework. The framework was initiated by First Nations and First Nations-mandated post-secondary institutes and continues to be First Nations-led.
Are there challenges?
Based on current funding levels, funding is insufficient to meet the needs for language revitalization in B.C.
The Province invested nearly $35 million in new funding to the FPCC and FPCF in June 2022. Most recently through Budget 2023/24 the Province announced more than $6 million annual operational boost to FPCC. MIRR continues to work with FPCC and the Federal Government to work towards securing sustainable funding.
Funding secured to date for the Indigenous Language Fluency Degree will not meet current needs or support its expansion to other First Nations whose languages are endangered. The Ministry of Post-Secondary and Future Skills will seek additional funding for the Indigenous Language Fluency Degree.