Utoo Radio with Other News Sources, May 28, 2024 - Sol Mamakwa, the only First Nation legislator in Ontario, addressed Queen's Park in his own language, Anishininiimowin. It marked the first time a language other than English and French has been allowed by officials in Ontario's legislative chamber.

Mamakwa secured a pledge from the premier to build a long-term care home in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, and called on First Nations to save their languages while there are still older generations who speak it.

Ontario's legislature had not previously allowed interpreting and transcribing a language other than English and French. Mamakwa's mother, Kezia Mamakwa, turned 79 on Tuesday, and politicians sang "Happy Birthday" to her and gave her several standing ovations.

The premier said he was proud of Mamakwa, who sits directly across from Ford in the chamber.

Over the last century, Indigenous languages across Canada have been dying, with governments and Catholic and Protestant churches forcing First Nation children to learn English in residential and day schools.

Mamakwa called on First Nations to revitalize their First Nations language, teach their children to speak the First Nations language, and be proud of it.

Mamakwa sparked the change at Queen's Park after convincing Government House Leader Paul Calandra to allow him to speak at the legislature in the language his parents taught him. Calandra changed the standing orders on languages spoken in the legislative chamber to include any Indigenous language spoken in Canada.

The legislature brought in interpreters to translate Mamakwa's words in real time and will also be represented in syllabics, an Indigenous writing system, in Hansard, the official record of proceedings at Queen's Park.