Ontario legislator to make history at Queen’s Park with speech, questions in Oji-Cree

 The Canadian Press  28/05/2024 04:00 A First Nation legislator in Ontario is set to make history today when he rises at Queen’s Park to speak in his language, Oji-Cree. For the first time in its history, the Ontario legislature will allow, interpret and transcribe a language other than English and French. New Democrat Sol Mamakwa sparked the change after convincing Government House Leader Paul Calandra to allow him to speak in the language his parents taught him. About 100 supporters will gather in Toronto to watch the historic moment, including Mamakwa’s mother, siblings, friends and First Nation leaders. Mamakwa, from Kingfisher Lake First Nation in northern Ontario, says the milestone is important because Indigenous people are losing their languages and his speech and question in the legislature will mark a…

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