The Mohawks, who express themselves primarily in English, will be directly affected by the reform of the French Language Charter, which provides for the inclusion of three French courses in the training of students attending English-speaking CEGEPs. The successful completion of two courses in French was already required.
Although their right to the preservation of their language and culture is protected by the charter, indigenous people are not specifically mentioned in this bill, which they strongly oppose. Today they are asking Quebec to exempt them from applying Bill 96, or better yet, to repeal that bill.
It’s an attack on our language, said Ra’nikonhri:io Lazare, a 22-year-old teacher.
We understand that culture is at stake, but 85% of Quebec’s population speaks French. There are 300 of us who speak our language, which I don’t know much about, by the way, explained Teiotsatonteh Diabo, who plans to start Dawson College in the fall.
It’s sad that I’m forced to learn French before my own language. That’s what many in the community think.
This 19-year-old young woman recalls some painful parts of her country’s history that somehow survived aboriginal boarding schools and other attempts at assimilation.
We are a small community. We don’t have much left and we need to protect what we have left. That is our message and I hope it reaches François Legault. I hope he will listen to us and put himself in our place.
Teiotsatonteh Diabo (center) walks with her younger sister Ionientana:wen and other members of Kahnawake’s Mohawk community.
Photo: Radio Canada
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Kahnawake Survival School before beginning their march to the Mercier Bridge. Access to education was at the heart of their concerns.
I think of all these young people that I teach. This law will greatly influence them when it comes time to decide what they want to do in life, said Ra’nikonhri:io Lazare.
Mr. Lazare fears the proposed legislation will block the future prospects of future generations of Mohawks by adding new barriers to accessing higher education.
This will of course reduce the opportunities for our young people to go to CEGEP and university.
The majority of people here speak English, said Ka’nahsohon Kevin Deer, an elder from Kahnawake. They shouldn’t be punished if they want to go to school.
According to Teiotsatonteh Diabo, making education more difficult for young Aboriginal people jeopardizes everything else. The social infrastructure system, developed in Kahnawake to ensure greater autonomy for the community, would be the first to suffer.
It will affect the education of my little sister, mine, but also our healthcare system. We will have a hard time keeping our hospital in the community and we will always have to go to Montreal for anything related to care, Teiotsatonteh Diabo said.
Although François Legault recently assured that after the reform, healthcare will always be available in English, the young woman fears that her case will eventually be absorbed by the French-speaking system.
We have already been assimilated. Bill 96 will take us even further back.
No advice
While the youngest walked under the blazing sun and car horns blaring, Ka’nahsohon Kevin Deer patiently waited outside the school for their return. He sat by a tree and kept a fire lit for the ceremony before leaving.
Almost 50 years after Law 101, the Elder feels like he is reliving the same scenario. While he remains hopeful, he has a hard time accepting the government’s unwillingness to speak to First Nations and consider their calls for charter reform, reform on which Indigenous people have not been consulted.
We have made treaties of peace, friendship and respect, argues Ka’nahsohon Kevin Deer. The way the government acts is like we don’t matter. We do not pass any law without consulting those affected. That bothers us.