As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada refer to the Board of Internal Economy a request to find ways to accommodate simultaneous interpretation in more than three languages during committee meetings when requested by either members or witnesses speaking an Indigenous language.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada provide funding for the promotion of Indigenous languages within music and ceremonies to ensure that Indigenous songs are created and used as resources for future generations.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada’s national strategies and action plans for Indigenous language reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening reflect different regional and local contexts by incorporating flexible and diverse funding and programming approaches.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada do more to empower Indigenous-led processes and decision-making with respect to the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of Indigenous languages.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada develop programs to address the Indigenous language research needs of Indigenous communities, specifically those whose language is “dormant” or at risk of being lost.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada remove any administrative obstacles hindering Indigenous communities and organizations from applying for language funding; and that the government ensure that the application process is accessible to all communities, regardless of their available administrative or human resources.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada, in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis, prepare and introduce in Parliament amendments to the Indigenous Languages Act to: clearly state in section 5 that protecting all Indigenous languages in Canada is one of the purposes of the Act; consider the creation of more mandatory obligations for Canada under the Act; and amend sections 26(a)–26(d) and 27(1) to enable the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages to consider complaints related to programming involving blended or joint funding.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada consider the importance of healing through the revitalization of Indigenous languages and cultures in the design of Indigenous languages programming.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada adopt a holistic, whole-of-government approach to the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act, recognizing that Indigenous language rights are linked to Indigenous rights to education, health and justice, among others.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada take immediate action to ensure the provision of adequate, sustainable, long-term, and distinctions-based funding to support the Indigenous-led reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages in Canada; and that the Government of Canada report back to the committee within one year on efforts made to achieve this goal.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and organizations to ensure that Indigenous languages teachers are compensated in the same way as teachers in the public education system; and that additional funding be provided to train Indigenous languages teachers.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada explore how to ensure that compensation received by Indigenous Elders for language teaching work does not lead to clawbacks of, or reduction in, Old Age Security payments and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners and relevant stakeholders, such as provincial and territorial governments, to determine the best approach to reconcile Canada’s official bilingualism with the recognition that Indigenous languages are the first languages of this land.

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada incentivize Indigenous languages within the public service through bonuses, promotions, nominations and other means.

Recommendation 15

That the Government of Canada work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners to identify barriers to Indigenous language immersion and ways to overcome them.

Recommendation 16

That the Government of Canada work with provinces and territories, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, to better coordinate the work being done to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages across the country.