For Immediate Release
October 29, 2021
The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs (Assembly) want to recognize and congratulate Chief Leroy Denny, Assembly’s Education Lead and Chair of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, on today’s legislation announcement in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia.
At a meeting held earlier this month between the Assembly and the new Minister of the Nova Scotia Office of L’nu Affairs, the Honourable Karla MacFarlane, Chief Denny expressed the urgent need to preserve and protect the Mi’kmaw language.
Today, Minister MacFarlane announced the province’s commitment to co-develop legislation that will recognize Mi’kmaq as the original language of Nova Scotia. The province will also be working with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia to undertake efforts to preserve, revitalize and promote the language of the first peoples of these lands.
“This announcement is exciting and a welcomed one for all Mi’kmaq,” said Chief Sidney Peters, Co-Chair for the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs. “We congratulate Chief Denny on advancing this matter and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey for taking the lead on this very important work.”
In order to further this language work with Nova Scotia, a working group will be developed with the Mi’kmaq interests being represented by Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, the collective voice for Mi’kmaw education in Nova Scotia. Working in conjunction with his role as the Chair for Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey (MK), Chief Leroy Denny also sits as Education Lead for the Assembly.
“We want to acknowledge Chief Denny’s passion for ensuring our language is passed down to future generations,” continued Chief Peters. “Wela’lin for all you have done to help share and preserve our language. Wela’lioq to Blaire Gould and the MK team for working to co-develop this critical piece of legislation.”