French and Aboriginal Language Perspectives


French in Alberta

The first Europeans to settle in Alberta were French explorers and trappers. Many of them married Aborginal women, founding Métis communities. Religious orders like the Oblates also moved to Alberta, founding missions across the province. Nearly 10% of  Albertans today are descended from these early French settlers, but most of them no longer speak French.


Today, according to the Canadian census, about 70 000 Albertans or just under 3% of the population of Alberta are Francophones. As Alberta's economy prospers, more French-speaking people are moving to Alberta. About 7% of all Albertans speak some French. Most Franco-Albertans live in Edmonton or smaller communities including Bonnyville, Beaumont, Plamondon, Legal, St. Paul, Falher, Donnelly, McLennan, and Girouxville. Some of these towns have declared themselves officially bilingual.

The struggle to maintain language and culture: With such a small population spread over a large land mass, Franco-Albertans have struggled to maintain their language and culture. Today, Francophone families have the right to instruction in French where numbers warrant.


To see the Alberta Online Encyclopedia for more information about Franco-Albertans at the link below.

Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Aboriginal languages

More than sixty Aboriginal languages are spoken in Canada by over 150 000 people. Cree is the most widely spoken native language in Alberta; Ojibwe and Inuktitut also have large numbers of speakers in other parts of Canada. Aboriginal languages are official languagesonly in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Aboriginal language use throughout the world is declining as Aboriginal people become progressively more assimilated into the dominant culture.

Task force on language and culture

In 2003, the Canadian government recognized the importance of maintaining Aboriginal languages and established a task force on Aboriginal languages and cultures. This task force conducted research and made recommendations to the Minister of Canadian Heritage on the preservation, revitalization, and promotion of Aboriginal languages.

The task force found that Aboriginal language use is severely declining. Aboriginal language use was found to be stronger in smaller communities, where the language is shared from one generation to the next. These same languages are rarely used by Aboriginal people who live in urban centres. In particular, the Métis language, Michif, is rarely spoken.



Aaron Huey/National Geographic Stock

Calling on the wisdom of Native Elders, the task force made several recommendations, including the following:

  • Language, culture, spiritual values, and the Aboriginal sense of identity are inseparable.

  • First Nation, Inuit, and Métis languages contain a wealth of traditional knowledge of benefit to Canada and the world.

  • Native people must keep their own languages alive by using them daily.

  • The homes must focus on the young and the use of Aboriginal language.

  • Language teaching must be in social settings in the community; it cannot be left to institutions.

  • Government funding is required to promote Aboriginal languages in the same way French and English are promoted.

  • Federal legislation must promote and protect First Nation, Inuit, and Métis languages.