In a historic milestone that challenges centuries of colonial suppression of Indigenous languages, Sol Mamakwa, a member of Ontario’s New Democratic Party representing Kingfisher Lake First Nation, addressed the provincial legislature at Queen’s Park in Anishininiimowin, also known as Oji-Cree.
Mamakwa’s groundbreaking speech on Tuesday marked the first-ever Indigenous language address in Ontario’s legislature, a moment he described as leaving him “thankful and proud.” Before beginning his speech, Mamakwa requested unanimous consent from the house to speak in Anishininiimowin, receiving applause from fellow lawmakers.
“I am speaking for those who couldn’t use their language … and for every Indigenous person in Ontario,” Mamakwa said. “The language was taken from us by the arrival of the settlers, colonization and residential school. This history removed the children from our ways of life.”
He spoke about the traumatic legacy of colonial policies, including the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families and the use of residential schools to eradicate Indigenous cultures and languages. Mamakwa highlighted how children were punished, even having their mouths washed out with soap, for speaking their mother tongue.
The historic occasion follows Ontario government house leader Paul Calandra’s decision to amend a standing order, allowing lawmakers to use “an Indigenous language spoken in Canada” when addressing the speaker or chamber. Mamakwa’s speech was simultaneously translated into English and French.
More than two dozen members of Kingfisher Lake First Nation attended the event in Toronto, alongside Indigenous political leaders from across Ontario. Mamakwa’s mother, Kezia, who does not speak English, was present and received a standing ovation from lawmakers. As Mamakwa noted her 79th birthday, the legislature broke into song.
“My mother used to take me out into the wilderness and onto the land, teaching me the language. That’s why I’m able to speak my First Nations language,” Mamakwa said.
He also paid tribute to his late father, Jerry, holding up an eagle feather during his speech. Mamakwa, who represents the vast, Indigenous-majority electoral district of Kiiwetinoong, emphasized the urgency of preserving and promoting Anishininiimowin. He recounted a recent meeting with an elder who revealed he is slowly losing his command of the language, underscoring the need for more official use and recognition of Indigenous languages in Ontario.
According to a government committee, nearly 2 million Canadians identify as Indigenous, but only 260,000 can speak an Indigenous language. Of the 58 distinct Indigenous languages spoken across Canada, many are at risk of disappearing. While languages like Cree, Ojibwe, and Inuktitut have a relatively large number of speakers, others, like the Sechelt language and certain dialects of Haida, are critically endangered.
Mamakwa’s address marks a significant step towards revitalizing and preserving Indigenous languages in Ontario, reflecting a broader movement across Canada to acknowledge and promote the cultural and linguistic rights of Indigenous peoples.