Language is the heart of culture. It determines how we communicate with one another, share stories and build relationships. For Indigenous Peoples who did not have written words prior to colonization, language is how their culture and traditions survived from generation to generation. However, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has found that Indigenous languages are at risk of dying out, with 75% of those in Canada considered endangered.

Shared language is a key part of identity and self-belonging. For many Indigenous cultures, these ancient traditional spoken words are at risk of being lost with older generations. With many middle-aged generations culturally disconnected due to the residential school system, eyes instead are turning to the youngest in communities to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma and revitalize culture and connectedness to one another and the land.

Medicine takes many forms. Across Indigenous cultures, a shared understanding is that the earth provides all that we need to live and heal. Plant-based medicine has been used by Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial and remains a vital part of cultural identity. Yet, like many forms of traditional knowledge, these practices have been disrupted and, in some cases, lost due to the lasting impacts of colonization.

Pow Wows are Indigenous celebrations where families, friends and communities come together to enjoy traditional music, dances, regalia and food. They transcend generations, bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together to share in culture, celebrate ancestral traditions and provide hope for the future.

After centuries of systemic efforts to eliminate traditional practices and ways of life, Indigenous youth still face barriers to community connection, mentorship and opportunities. But each year, more organizations and programs appear across Canada to support young Indigenous Peoples in rebuilding their identity, stoking pride in their indigeneity, strengthening cultural ties and fostering resilience.

Important conversations around revitalizing Indigenous languages are taking place in English, exemplifying the problem at hand. As Elders and Knowledge Keepers grow older and the number of fluent Indigenous language speakers dwindles, it has become more critical to offer immersive and language-first approaches to save traditional dialects.

Stepping through the doors of university for the first time is a daunting experience. Trying to create community in a new environment, with new faces, while navigating post-secondary education is difficult for any young adult. Indigenous students, some of whom come from rural or remote communities, face additional challenges such as struggling to find fellow Indigenous peers, feeling misrepresented through coursework, being misunderstood in class and disconnection from their non-Indigenous classmates.

Many Indigenous youth have been in crisis for far too long, facing mental health challenges, instability at home and substance abuse, which has led to the heartbreaking loss of too many young lives. Indigenous communities have decided that enough is enough, deciding to not just survive, but thrive, reconnecting and healing in a way that touches both the heart and the spirit.

There are over 70 distinct spoken Indigenous languages within Canada and preservation of these sacred dialects has never been more important. As the number of fluent Indigenous language speakers decline, with historic efforts to erase these languages taking their toll, now is a critical time to revitalize languages before they’re gone forever.

Stitch by stitch, bead by bead, and thread by thread, Indigenous Peoples are reclaiming their culture across Canada. There has been a resurgence of interest in Indigenous practices and a strong drive to revitalize traditional crafts and teachings that have survived, despite the odds, over the years. From youth to seniors, many are seeking educational opportunities to reconnect with their roots.