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Including Indigenous languages in government records, systems and services

Last updated on July 8, 2024

The Province is taking steps to include First Nations, Métis and Inuit languages in official government records, systems and services. Find out what steps are being taken and how you can stay informed.

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Recognizing the past and including Indigenous languages

Canada’s colonial legacy includes a history of policies and practices – such as assimilation, forced relocation, the Sixties Scoop and residential schools. These policies and practices were detrimental to Indigenous languages and contributed to their erosion.

European settlers replaced the names of First Nations’ territories (places) with anglicized names. Indigenous people also had their names forcibly changed to anglicized names. This continues to impact Indigenous people today. It has resulted in a system where individuals are unable to use an Indigenous language name on official documents like:

  • Birth certificate
  • Driver's licence
  • Business licence
Including Indigenous languages in government systems and official records is a vital step towards reconciliation. It is included in B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan, Action 3.15.
 
Work to update government systems has already begun. It will include ongoing engagement with Indigenous Peoples and organizations. Over time, Indigenous people will be able to use their Indigenous names in any B.C. government service.

Managing updates across interconnected systems

There are significant changes needed to update government records and data systems. Most government services use technology that can't record or transmit characters beyond the Latin alphabet. It gets more complicated because many government systems are connected and depend on each other. If one system in the chain can't process or store the data, it can disrupt people's access to services.    

The Province is engaging with Indigenous Peoples to find solutions to include Indigenous languages across government systems and services. This will include changes to:

  • Legislation
  • Policy
  • Technology
  • Service delivery

To ensure people can access services, names on identity documents and in systems need to match.

A good example is how a person's name on their identification impacts connected government systems.

To get a BC Services Card a person typically uses a birth certificate. The challenge arises when the birth certificate contains Indigenous language characters that the existing systems are unable to record.

The birth certificate example shows how systems share information and the need for that information to be compatible. This example also applies to the process of getting:
  • Social insurance number
  • Driver's licence
  • Passport
  • Other forms of identification

Updating one system to include Indigenous languages requires considering the impacts on all connected systems. In just the B.C. core government, there are over 1,200 systems that need technological updates. While we upgrade technology, we are working on solutions to ensure that individuals with Indigenous language names can access services seamlessly.

Most government systems will be affected 

Changes to incorporate Indigenous languages will affect nearly every government information system. This is true whether a person wants to record an Indigenous-language name for:

  • A person
  • A business
  • A location

The complexity of this work and the need to maintain access to essential services for people means that the Province must proceed carefully. Indigenous peoples must be engaged to drive the priorities and path forward.

Tools and technology needed for inclusive records, systems and services

Including Indigenous languages in government records, systems, and services requires specialized tools. Computer systems can distort a name with Indigenous characters without the right:

  • Font
  • Database
  • Software
  • Code
  • Keyboards

Indigenous name data journey 

In the name example below you can see the steps in data processing and how without the proper technology those steps can impact the data underlying Indigenous language characters. To correctly document a name with Indigenous characters specific technology is required. 

Step 1 - Receive:  Client provides ID with their indigenous name 

Step 2 - Input: Staff uses a keyboard for the language and font to capture the name on the intake form

Step 3 - Ingest: The intake form information is sent to the database 

Step 4 - Digest and Store: The software and coding reads, encodes and stores the name 

Step 5 - Search and Retrieve: Staff searches the database for a name, the database system finds and retrieves the name and sends it to the print system.

Step 6 - Transmit:  The print software reads the name from the database and sends it to the printer.

Step 7 - Print: Printer reads, encodes and prints, then staff add the client intake report to the client file

With the right tools in place the name will be maintained at each step in the data journey from entry to print.

Using an inclusive font

Using a font that can correctly show characters from Indigenous languages in B.C. is one small step to including Indigenous languages. The Province has an inclusive font that you can start using today.

How are we doing this work?

We are working in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples. Together we will set priorities and develop solutions. This work is happening through two parallel streams of work.

Updating services 

Work is starting on the name type that we’ve heard is the most important to Indigenous Peoples – person names on identity documents and the associated services.  After that, work will begin on business names and location names as outlined below: 

  1. Personal Identity Documents and Services:  Documents, such as birth certificates and driver's licences, and services requiring these documents
  2. Business Names: Registering a business under the Corporations Act using an Indigenous name
  3. Location Names: Geographical features and other place names reflected on maps, websites and forms

Modernizing technology

At the same time, we are working to ensure all government technology can support Indigenous languages. 

Implementation timeline

More than 1,200 government systems will be modernized to support Indigenous languages. Significant changes are needed to laws, policies, technology and how we deliver services.

January 2027:

  • Register a new birth or change a name to an Indigenous name
  • Get a BC Services Card in Indigenous languages
  • Register an Indigenous business name

January 2029:

  • Use an Indigenous name when accessing a core set of government services, as prioritized with Indigenous Peoples
  • Begin seeing place names in Indigenous languages on maps, websites, and forms

January 2034:

  • Use Indigenous language names in all interactions with the B.C. government

Transition to Indigenous names on identification

​Soon there will be a way to have an Indigenous language name on identification and still access services. We are making changes so that a person's identification would include two names.

  • ​The Indigenous language name, and  
  • ​A name the uses the current (Latin) characters. This name would be selected by the individual or parent/guardian. 

Using two names will smoothen the transition to using only an Indigenous language name. ​We are working with Indigenous Peoples to co-develop the specifics of this option as per the above timelines. ​  

New standards for government systems

We’re investing to make sure all our technology supports Indigenous languages in the future.

The Indigenous Languages Technology Standard (ILTS) outlines the requirements for government systems. It requires systems to read, write, store, process, and display Indigenous languages. This standard applies to each individual system. It is the first in a series of technical standards required to create seamless access to services using an Indigenous language name. This standard is available for all organizations to use and reference in updating their systems.

Guidance to support Indigenous languages in systems

Contact us

For more information, contact Eowynn Bosomworth, Executive Director, B.C. Data Systems and Services 

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