An Unprecedented International Forum to Support Indigenous and Minority Languages in the North

From February 9 to 11, 2026, Collège Nordique, in collaboration with community organizations and members, will host the International Forum on the Preservation and Promotion of Indigenous and Minority Languages of the North. This event, made possible thanks to the financial support of Global Affairs Canada and Canada Arctic, will bring together individuals from community, educational, and research sectors to exchange concrete solutions aimed at strengthening linguistic continuity in minority contexts. 

The forum is designed as both a space for strategic reflection and a meeting point between territories. Engaged participants will take part in discussions with the shared intention of sharing knowledge, experiences, and perspectives for the future of languages. 

“The response has exceeded all our expectations. Participants from across Northern Canada, Alaska, and Europe have enthusiastically confirmed their attendance, ready to share their knowledge, experiences, and hopes for the future of languages. It is truly moving to see how strongly languages are supported by committed and united communities,” said Rosie Benning, Director of Training at Collège Nordique. 

Themes at the Heart of Northern Realities 

Indigenous and minority languages play a central role in the passing down of knowledge from generation to generation, community cohesion, and identity-building. Yet they evolve within contexts marked by significant challenges, including intergenerational transmission, inequitable access to educational resources, and the need to adapt to rapidly changing digital environments. 

Organized in a spirit of collaboration, the forum will address these issues through several complementary themes. Discussions will focus on language revitalization, well-being and intergenerational connections, cultural affirmation, pedagogical innovation, as well as the development and integration of language technologies, such as AI. The role of postsecondary institutions and community partnerships in ensuring the sustainability of languages will also be central to the conversations. 

The event will feature presentations, panel discussions, and cultural sharing moments within an action-oriented and collaborative framework. It will conclude with participation in the first day of the Tłı̨chǫ Yatıı̀ Symposium, further reinforcing the forum’s territorial grounding. 

An Initiative Rooted in a Long-Term Vision 

The forum is not a standalone event. It is part of a broader, structured approach aimed at building lasting connections and fostering meaningful initiatives that support the vitality of minority and Indigenous languages well beyond the three days of discussion. 

It also contributes to the development of an international thematic network currently underway. Collège Nordique is undertaking steps to seek recognition of this network within UArctic, with the goal of fostering exchange, collaboration, and the sharing of best practices among Northern language practitioners. 

Collège Nordique: A Committed Northern Institution 

Collège Nordique is the only accredited Francophone postsecondary institution north of the 60th parallel. Its mission is to support the vitality of Francophone and Northern communities through education, collaboration, and pedagogical innovation. Through its programs, partnerships, and territorial initiatives, the College contributes to strengthening linguistic and educational capacity across the North. 

“As a Francophone postsecondary institution operating in a minority context, we understand intimately what it means to keep a language alive, to transmit it, to defend it, and to reinvent it. In a territory where 11 official languages coexist, we operate in a unique environment shaped by an exceptional level of linguistic plurality. It was therefore only natural that this forum be held here, at Collège Nordique, where minority languages and cultures do not compete, but instead strengthen one another. This forum reaffirms our DNA: that of an institution rooted in cooperation, respect, and the conviction that the vitality of languages and cultures is inseparable from the vitality of communities,” said Patrick Arsenault, Director of Collège Nordique. 

By convening diverse expertise in Yellowknife, Collège Nordique reaffirms its role as a space for convergence, collaboration, and strategic reflection on Northern linguistic issues. 

An Accessible Event 

The forum will take place primarily at Collège Nordique in Yellowknife and will also be available online to allow for broader participation. Registration is free and open to anyone interested. 

Published on January 28th 2026