First Mi'kmaw MP speaks his language in House of Commons

Jaime Battiste, the country's first Mi'kmaw MP, used his first statement in the House of Commons to speak in his own language.

Battiste, the Liberal MP for the Cape Breton riding of Sydney-Victoria, asked theMinister of Indigenous Services about implementing the Languages Act.

In response, Minister Marc Millersaid thank you in Mi'kmaq to Battisteand proceeded to highlight the Liberal government's $337-million commitment to Indigenous languages. He said his department is working with people and teachers "who know best how to revitalizetheir languages."

The Department of Canadian Heritage, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and theMtisNation worked together to developed the Indigenous Languages Act, which was introduced earlier this year.

Battiste isa law school graduate and resident of EskasoniFirst Nation.During the federal election campaign, he apologized after being criticizedforracist and sexist social media postshe made in the past.

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