Despite Yukon Party Inaction, Vuntut Gwitchin MLA to Continue Advocating for Aboriginal Languages

10-Dec-2009

Whitehorse: Despite the failure of Yukon Party MLAs to stand up in support of Yukon’s Aboriginal languages, Darius Elias, MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin, will continue to press for their protection.

Yesterday, MLAs in the Legislative Assembly were scheduled to debate Elias’ motion to establish an independent, non-partisan Commission on Yukon Aboriginal Language Protection to canvass Yukoners about how Aboriginal languages should be nurtured and sustained. The motion was inspired both by the fundamental role of Aboriginal languages in Yukon’s history and way of life today, and by the threats of extinction those languages now face.

“Every single member of the Yukon Party caucus did their best to avoid debating the Aboriginal Language Protection motion. Their repetitious speeches and excessive level of detail on the NDP’s Credit Union motion left me with only a few minutes to speak to my motion,” Elias said.

“If action isn’t taken, Yukoners may lose an essential part of their heritage forever. Our sister territory, the NWT, recently completed a study that found that their Aboriginal languages are “in a state of emergency,” and that, without prompt protection, some languages will disappear within the next generation or two,” Elias said.

Despite this setback, Elias will continue to champion the recognition and support of Yukon’s Aboriginal languages by the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

“Just because the Fentie/Taylor government sees no value in protecting our territory’s Aboriginal languages from extinction, doesn’t mean I will stop working on behalf of Aboriginal languages,” Elias says.

For additional information contact:
Shay Smart 667-5081