Language is a core part of culture, shaping identity and enabling the transmission of knowledge, values, and traditions. Recognizing this, the Government of Canada continues to support Indigenous peoples in reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining, and strengthening their languages.
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, visited Kahnawà:ke to meet with band council members and tour the Nation’s new multidisciplinary cultural center. This space, featuring a performance hall and a museum, will host multiple organizations, including the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center, which has worked for nearly 50 years to preserve and revitalize the Kanien’kéha language.
The construction of the Kahnawà:ke Cultural Arts Center received a $2.5 million investment through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. This funding also enabled the acquisition of specialized equipment to make performance and creation spaces more adaptable for artists. Additionally, the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center benefits from approximately $700,000 in support over five years (2023–2028) from the Indigenous Languages Program to strengthen Kanien’kéha teaching.
These investments allow the Mohawk Nation to continue efforts to reclaim, protect, and revitalize its language, fostering cultural preservation for future generations. Minister Miller emphasized Canada’s commitment to working with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities to support their language and cultural revitalization initiatives.
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke governs the community, safeguarding its rights, culture, and resources. Established in 1978, the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center provides immersion programs to preserve the Kanien’kéha language. Programs like the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund and the Indigenous Languages Program enhance physical spaces, equipment, and resources to support arts, heritage, and language revitalization initiatives led by Indigenous communities.
