International Forum on the Preservation and Promotion of Indigenous and Minority Languages on the North

A Northern Dialogue Moving Toward Collective Action 

From February 9 to 11, 2026, Collège Nordique hosted the International Forum on the Preservation and Promotion of Indigenous and Minority Languages. Over three days, the College became a space for dialogue and reflection, bringing together individuals committed the linguistic continuity from Northern Canada and the broader Circumpolar North. 

The event welcomed more than 44 participants in person and 58 online participants. All sessions were offered in French, English, Tłı̨chǫ, and Wıı̀lıı̀deh concretely affirming Collège Nordique’s commitment to linguistic accessibility. 

A Forum Grounded in the Territory 

From the opening session onward, discussions emphasized that language revitalization cannot be separated from the land, Indigenous knowledge systems and community realities. The presence of Elders, institutional leaders and language policy specialists set the tone for a forum rooted in listening, respect and co-creation. 

Conversations highlighted that language transmission extends beyond pedagogy. It is closely connected to the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, governance, cultural well-being, and collective resilience. 

Northern Perspectives in Dialogue 

The Forum brought forward lived realities from across the territories, shared by individuals actively engaged in the transmission and revitalization of Indigenous and minority languages. Participants from Alaska, Iceland, Scotland, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Northern Québec, contributed to a broader Northern dialogue on shared challenges, including intergenerational transmission within families, access to culturally grounded teaching resources, training and support for language educators, the creation of intergenerational language spaces, governance models rooted in self-determination, and the the role of technological innovation. Throughout the discussions, speakers emphasized that language revitalization is inseparable from the land, identity, cultural continuity, and healing.  

This event brought together research, initiatives, and reflections on language continuity, transmission, postsecondary development, and linguistic rights across diverse communities, both locally and internationally. Work on Inuit–Yupik–Unangax languages, Lingít, Dene kǝdǝ́, Dëne Sųłıné, Dëne Dédliné, Dene Zhatıé, Tłı̨chǫ, Wıı̀lıı̀deh, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, and French was placed in dialogue with research on languages in Scotland, as well as with initiatives in Iceland aimed at ensuring the presence of low-resource languages in digital environments and in the development of artificial intelligence. By encouraging an interdisciplinary and transboundary approach, the forum sought to highlight shared challenges and avenues for collaboration among linguistic communities, grounded in complementarity and solidarity.  

Other northern language groups that were not represented at the Forum are encouraged to reach out to Collège Nordique at info@cnordique.ca if they wish to join the discussion. 

The Structuring Role of Postsecondary Education 

The discussions highlighted the pivotal role of postsecondary institutions in language continuity, particularly when they are grounded in northern realities and engaged in strong interterritorial partnerships. In this context, the network of the University of the Arctic (UArctic), which brings together circumpolar postsecondary institutions, offers a strategic lever for establishing a thematic network dedicated to languages. Such a space would enable member institutions to contribute actively to ongoing conversations, pool their expertise, and strengthen collaboration in training, applied research, and governance that integrates Indigenous knowledge systems. The Forum thus reaffirmed that postsecondary development in minority contexts is a structuring tool among others for consolidating institutional capacity and sustainably supporting language initiatives. 

Toward an International Thematic Network 

Beyond presentations, the Forum served as a collective working space. A key moment was dedicated to the co-creation of an international thematic network focused on Indigenous and minority languages in Northern contexts. 

Participants began defining the structure, priorities and collaborative approaches of this network. The goal is to establish a sustainable platform for dialogue that enables the sharing of expertise, supports the development of structural projects and fosters ongoing collaboration among Northern communities. 

Next steps include formalizing the network, identifying working groups and developing a coordinated action plan. This work aims to transform the Forum’s exchanges into concrete and lasting initiatives grounded in territorial realities. 

A Mobilization That Continues 

By bringing together local and international expertise, Indigenous knowledge and institutional perspectives, Collège Nordique contributes to strengthening a Northern dialogue that is essential to the future of Indigenous and minority languages. 

This Forum was made possible through the financial support of our partners Global Affairs Canada and Canada Arctic. 

The work initiated over these three days will continue in the coming months through the deployment of the thematic network, knowledge sharing and the development of concrete collaborations in support of Northern languages. 

Would you like to revisit key moments from the Forum?

Published on February 19th 2026