Canada celebrates Indigenous People’s Day today, but reconciliation may be miles away in Montreal, as efforts have been blocked by Bill 96 – now Law 96. This law enacts French language reform laws across Quebec. Local 514 looks into how Law 96 has affected Kahnawake being able to access Montreal's services in English.

Kahnawake residents can still operate their services in their language of preference, but those seeking education in CEJEPs on the Island of Montreal or elsewhere in Quebec will be required to take extra French language courses starting in 2024. 

Other services, such as healthcare, will only be accessible in French. Residents of Kahnawake say this hinders reconciliation efforts. 

Local 514 investigates, inviting Post secondary distance counselor at the Kahnawake Education Center Bethany Douglas, Indigenous rights activist Kenneth Deer, a member of the Mohawk Council of Chiefs, Michael Delisle, and Kahnawake resident Ranikonhriio Lazare to share their thoughts.

In protest to the law, Kahnawake ended communication with the Quebec government in response to Law 96.

Douglas says this is very worrying. She says the first language of many students in Kahnawake is English and Mohawk, and that French is a third language.

She says going to Cégep and doing more French is a bit intimidating for some and she fears it will encourage students to go out of province or to not pursue post secondary studies at all.

Douglas says that though the law wont come into affect until 2024, graduates this year know they will still be in Cégep in 2024.  She says younger students have it in the back of their mind that they’ll have to do extra French classes and it puts pressure on them while already in High School. She says as a result, they'll have to try extra hard to pass French in High School, creating a domino affect.

The Kahnawake Education Center will be providing a work-around for students in lieu of Law 96 by offering Grade 12 to students. Having a high school education up until grade 12 means that students will not need to attend CEJEP, as a result, not needing to complete extra french requirements in CEJEP.

However, Education Minister Jean-François Roberge said he would close this loophole, stating the Center providing grade 12 is not authorized.

But education isn’t the only barrier Law 96 will create.

Douglas says health and social services will also be affected. For youth protection services in Montreal, addressing the matter in the courts will be in French. She says those who speak English will will have to pay to get a translation of court documents. She also says for people getting chemotherapy radiation outside community, for example, will not have the ability to access healthcare in English. 

Minister Responsible for the French Language Simon Jolin-Barrette, who wrote the bill, said the bill is not intended to cause divisions for English and Indigenous communities, but it is to protect the French language.

Many students in Kahnawake grow up learning English, with many trying to teach and preserve Kanien'kéha (the Mohawk language) for students.