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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Fyi item. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Thanks<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Carolyn<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>TORONTO</span></font></st1:City>, Nov. 9 - The Chiefs
of Ontario is calling on the Government of Canada to honour their stated
commitment to First Nation languages in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>. During discussions with the
Minister of Canadian Heritage, Bev Oda, First Nations were informed that the
allocation of $172.5M for Aboriginal Languages would not be disbursed as
originally planned.<br>
<br>
The Department of Canadian Heritage has already spent a significant amount of
money on the planned disbursement of this funding commitment. In 2003, the
Department of Canadian Heritage struck the Task Force on Aboriginal Languages
and Cultures to gather information on the Aboriginal Languages situation in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> and make
recommendations on how the funding could be most effectively allocated. The Task
Force presented their final report in July 2005 but no action has been taken.
First Nations communities across <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> have been preparing their
language work plans to implement key grassroots activities such as
immersion/bilingual programming, immersion centres, and language resources and
programs, in anticipation of the flow of this funding.<br>
<br>
Regional Chief Angus Toulouse stated "based on this unilateral decision,
First Nations in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>
feel that the original languages of this land are not respected or
protected." In addition, the Regional Chief explained that the First
Nations governance processes, once finally engaged, cannot be ignored and a
return to a paternalistic, colonialistic attitude by the federal government is
not acceptable. Minister Oda was quoted in the House of Commons stating that
the "current government is not of the view that this approach is the most
appropriate means of working toward the revitalization and preservation of
First Nation, Inuit and Metis Languages." Despite this attitude, Regional
Chief Toulouse indicated that First Nations "will be the determiners of
our own future and our languages are our own. We will not go back in
time."<br>
<br>
The Regional Chief indicated that the preservation of First Nations languages
in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>
is not solely for the benefit of First Nations themselves, and that a large
proportion of Canadians appreciate how First Nations languages and culture adds
richness to the fabric of Canadian society. "Our languages are at the core
of who we are as First Nations and we have constantly battled, in the face of
the federal government's assimilationist policies, to protect our languages and
cultures. The loss of our languages and cultures has led to a variety of social
crises in our communities and this unilateral decision will cause further harm
to the quality of life in our communities," said Regional Chief Toulouse.<br>
<br>
The Chief Commissioner of the Anishinabek, Muskegowuk and Onkwenhonwe Language
Commission, Nelson Toulouse, expressed disappointment and frustration at the
announcement made by Minister Oda in the House of Commons. Mr. Toulouse stated
"the federal government must stop paying lip service to First Nation
people and uphold their commitments. Where is the honour of the Crown?"<font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><strong><b><font size=3
color=maroon face="Arial Narrow"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
"Arial Narrow";color:maroon'>Carolyn Hepburn</span></font></b></strong></st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Director, Native Education and Training</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sault</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> of Applied
Arts and Technology</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>443 Northern Avenue</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Sault Ste. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Marie</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">ON</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">P6A 5L3</st1:PostalCode></st1:place></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Phone: (705) 759-2554 ext. 2499</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Fax: (705) 759-0175</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Web: </span></font><a
href="http://www.saultcollege.ca/NativeEducation"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>www.saultcollege.ca/NativeEducation</span></font></a><font
face="Arial Narrow"><span style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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