MARC MILLER

Canadian MP delivers parliamentary speech in indigenous Mohawk language

1 The speech by Miller — a non-Indigenous politician from Quebec — is believed to be the first time the language has been used officially in the Canadian legislature since it was established in 1867

2 He has been studying Mohawk since the start of the new year. He decided to learn the language when he saw English-speaking colleagues on the Quebec caucus attempting to learn French

3 “The elders say within a generation there will only be four or five [indigenous] languages that will survive if we don’t do anything,” Miller said. “I decided to learn a few words and see where it goes.”