First Nations languages funds languish in Ottawa (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

First Nations languages funds languish in Ottawa
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2005/21/c2181.html

OTTAWA, Sept. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - "First Nations languages - Canada's
national treasures - are dwindling away daily while Ottawa dithers,"
proclaimed Gilbert W. Whiteduck, President of the First Nations
Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres (FNCCEC) today to a crowd of
supporters on Parliament Hill. "I call on Canadian Heritage Minister
Frulla to release immediately the committed federal funds that have
been languishing in Ottawa while First Nations languages disappear a
bit every day," added Mr. Whiteduck.

The Federal Government set aside $172 million in 2002 in response to
pressure from First Nations to start to relieve the state of emergency
of First Nations languages and do more to promote and protect them. In
the three years since, "very minimal funding has been disbursed to only
a few communities across Canada", said Mr. Whiteduck. The Federal excuse
is that it first wants to set up a national corporation to distribute
the funds. "The FNCCEC, a national corporation, has existed for 35
years just for that purpose but Minister Frulla and her department
ignores that fact."

The FNCCEC also objects to the "Aboriginal-ization" of Federal language
funds. The Federal position requires a national all-Aboriginal run
corporation, blending the First Nations, Metis and Inuit together
despite First Nations objections and regardless of the groups' distinct
histories and relationships with Canada. "At the very least, the First
Nations portion of the new fund could be distributed without further
delay to the First Nations cultural centres through the FNCCEC," said
Mr. Whiteduck.

Mr. Whiteduck questions the seriousness and ability of the Prime
Minister to implement "transformative change" in First Nations policy,
a public commitment he made in a high-profile meeting in April, 2004.
"A key plank of his promise to First Nations was that Federal policy
would not be made for us but rather with us - well, so far with First
Nations languages it's been a unilateral Federal approach."

The FNCCEC is frustrated that the urgent plight of diminishing First
Nations languages and the effect it has on First Nations youth is not
being addressed while committed funds sit unused. "The tardiness in
releasing the funds is particularly unacceptable because strong First
Nations languages are the cornerstone of healthy and vibrant First
Nations communities," said Mr. Whiteduck. "Although the new fund is
just a start in relation to what is needed, we appreciated in 2002 that
our pleas were finally heard - but keeping almost all of the funds in
Ottawa for three years has not done any good for First Nations
languages," he added. Mr. Whiteduck called on the Department of
Canadian Heritage and the Department of Indian Affairs to recognize and
support the over three decades of FNCCEC work to protect First Nations
languages.

The FNCCEC represents 87 First Nations Cultural Education Centres in
Canada that work with over 400 First Nations communities. It
distributes $5 million of operational funds annually to its member
centres. The funds originate from the Federal Cultural Centres Program
administered by the Department of Indian Affairs. The FNCCEC
secretariat office is located in Ottawa, Ontario.



For further information: Gilbert W. Whiteduck, President, FNCCEC,
1-613-728-5999; Ms. Claudette Commanda, National Coordinator, FNCCEC,
1-613-728-5999