The Northwest Territories Official Languages Act outlines the legal protections afforded to Chipewyan, Cree, English, French, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, and Tłįchǫ̨. This includes the ability to use Official Languages in government institutions (legislative proceedings, for example) and the appointment of a Languages Commissioner to ensure the implementation the Act. Additionally, the Act outlines the duties of a Minister for Official Languages, including implementation and annual evaluation of Official Language programs, and regional consultation in the form of an Official Languages Board and an Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board with representatives from each language community.

Read about the history of different versions of the Official Languages Act. 

Read the reports on Official Languages from the Languages Commissioner of the NWT.

The Government of the Northwest Territories makes Annual Reports on Official Languages from the last decade available here: https://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/en/services/francophone-affairs-secretariat/official-languages-annual-reports. Older reports are archived with the Department of Education, Culture, and Employment. 

Access this Resource

Official Languages Act, R.S.N.W.T. c O-1, 1988.

The Act is available to read on the justice.gov.nt.ca website.