2023 will be a busy year for the Six Nations Language Commission as they look to update their strategic plan, execute research and implement a new language survey and policy.

Language Commission staff attended the Elected General Council meeting on April 11 to present their update since 2020.

Commissions Coordinator Karen Sandy emphasized the importance of proficiency as a way of achieving everyday interactions and acknowledged the younger generations who have launched initiatives such as the Language Market, initiated by Mackenzie Sandy. At the market, which only lasted one weekend, people were asked to speak Cayuga to vendors and service providers one day and then the next day they were asked to speak Mohawk. Sandy hopes to do it again sometime in the future.

The future vision of the Language Commission is to have all Haudenosaunee languages commonly used as living languages in everyday ordinary communication. They are also now planning to expand language resources and policy in Cayuga, Tuscarora, Onondaga and Mohawk.

Staff also discussed the Loss of Language Class Action lawsuit, which Six Nations was not a part of, that was settled with 325 First Nations on Jan, 21 with 325 for $2.8 billion dollars. 

Elected Chief Mark Hill hopes to speak further with the commission regarding the topic and other actions that might be taken regarding Loss of Language on Six Nations.

Listen to the report below: