The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is calling on Saskatchewan schools to encourage the use of First Nations languages in the classrooms across the province. The call out released to all School Boards in Saskatchewan is to not only increase, but also encourage, the use of First Nations languages in all classrooms and schools across the province.

The FSIN has recently received complaints regarding a Cree woman allegedly being asked by the school principal to not speak her language at the school and they are looking into these allegations.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron

“Every complaint we receive like this one will be taken seriously and looked into to ensure the preservation of our languages, cultures and identities in the school system,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron in a media release.

“It is the International Year of Indigenous Languages and we must not only promote the use of our languages in our everyday lives, but we must also do everything we can to support and encourage teachers, principals and all staff to ensure that our First Nations languages are heard in the classrooms and hallways of every educational institution across Saskatchewan,” he stated. “Language is key to our identity and the Residential School system tried tirelessly to kill that in our children who were forced to attend. Today, we must use the same energy and educational policies to ensure that our First Nations languages are heard, taught and celebrated in every classroom.”