Saving native languages up to First Nations: chief

Aboriginal people and their communities have todo more to save their own ancestral languages, some First Nations leadersare sayingin light of recent funding cuts to programs aimed at preserving aboriginal languages.

The cancelled funding was the subject of discussion among hundreds of First Nations leaders and educatorsfrom across the continent Monday at the National First Nations Languages Conferencein Winnipeg.

Chief David Crate of the Fisher River First Nation incentral Manitoba said First Nations themselves have fallen short in their efforts to preserve their ancestral languages, and they can't simply blame government.

"Money is only one aspect of what we need in terms of our families. We have to take it as a challenge and do that ourselves," Crate said.

"I recognize that we can't be reliant on government, just in terms of priorities that governments set. And language to them is a low priority, at least First Nation language. And that being the case, then we have to step up our efforts."

The bulk of about $170 million that had been earmarked by the previous Liberal government in 2002 for immersion classes and other language preservation programs was pulled by the Conservatives earlier this month.

In announcing the funding cut, Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda said that organizations such as the Assembly of First Nations, did not come up with "definitive plans" on how to spend the federal money.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine said on Monday that Oda's remarksaren't a fair evaluation.

"It's an attack on our languages. It's moving away from a commitment that was made to us, and the suggestion that we didn't have a plan on how to apply these badly needed resources is just not true," Fontaine said on Monday.

Oda said her department will still set aside about $40 million over the next eight years to preserveaboriginal languages.

Fontaine saidthe Assembly of First Nations is trying to convince Ottawa to reverse its decision, which he said could be disastrous for the future of aboriginal languages in Canada.

"There are 55 indigenous languages spoken in Canada. Fifty-three are in various stages of disappearing, so urgent action is needed," Fontaine said.

The Winnipeg conference is organized by the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, in partnership with the federal departments of Heritage and Indian and Northern Affairs. It runs until Wednesday.