A Week Celebrating Francophonie

The week of June 24-28, 2025, will be memorable for northern Francophonie. During the annual meeting of the Canadian Ministers’ Council on Francophonie, Collège Nordique had the honor of hosting several key government figures who gathered to discuss the issues facing francophone communities in northern contexts.

A Ministerial Visit to Highlight Northern Knowledge

On June 25, we welcomed the Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Official Languages, accompanied by Isabelle Mondou, Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, Real Dequier, Regional Director, and Nathaniel Mullin, Manager of Intergovernmental Policies and Programs (a long-time trusted ally).

This visit helped showcase the local knowledge developed at Collège Nordique. Our invited guests highlighted the quality of the educational resources created in the North, such as the Tłı̨chǫ Yatı̀ eyıts'ǫ Dǫ Nàowoò (Benning & Franki, 2022) and Rendez-vous Nordiques: Langue et culture (Garcia, 2021). These tools embody our commitment to building an educational offering that reflects the cultural and linguistic realities of the territory.

A Saint-Jean-Baptiste Celebrated with Pan-Canadian Francophonie

That same evening, Collège Nordique participated in the celebration of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, organized by the Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife (AFCY). In a festive and inclusive spirit, this evening allowed for exchanges with the federal, provincial, and territorial ministers responsible for Francophonie, gathered in Yellowknife for their annual meeting.

A precious moment where the French language affirmed itself as a unifying thread between cultures, above the 60th parallel in the Dene territories. Collège Nordique reiterated its commitment to the vitality of French, which remains at the heart of its educational and community mission.

Ministers' Council Gala

On June 26, the official gala of the Canadian Ministers’ Council on Francophonie brought together around sixty people at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Collège Nordique’s Executive Director, Patrick Arsenault, attended along with Yvonne Careen (Commission scolaire francophone des TNO), Caroline Roux (GTNO), and several political representatives, including the Honorable Tanya Fir (Alberta) and Nathaniel Mullin (Canadian Heritage).

The speech by the Honorable Caitlin Cleveland resonated deeply, highlighting Collège Nordique’s efforts in truth and reconciliation, as well as the solidarity between francophone and Indigenous communities.

Amber O’Reilly’s performance, reading poetry in tribute to photographer René Fumoleau’s work, moved attendees. Fumoleau donated over 15,000 photographs documenting the lives of Indigenous peoples in the NWT. An exhibition at the museum featured some of his works.

Lastly, the beaded bolo ties, handcrafted in Fort Simpson and gifted by Minister Cleveland, added a symbolic touch to this significant evening.

Roundtable on Northern Francophone Communities' Issues

The week concluded on June 27 with a roundtable with Minister Jean-François Roberge, Minister of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration of Quebec. This exchange shed light on the real challenges faced by francophones in the NWT, particularly regarding:

• Access to housing,

• Early childhood,

• Community spaces,

• The need for postsecondary education in French.

Collège Nordique, alongside its partners, emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to essential services to foster the sustainable growth of Francophonie in northern minority communities.

A Vibrant, Engaged, and Recognized Francophonie

This week of meetings, celebrations, and reflections highlighted the richness of the connections that unite the northern Francophonies with the rest of the country. Most importantly, it demonstrated that the transmission of French involves not only adapted educational programs but also continuous dialogue between communities, institutions, and governments.