Item 7 – International Decade of Indigenous Languages. Norway
18th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Statement Norway
Chairperson,
We thank the panellists for their interventions.
For a language to thrive, it must be an active part of daily life. Today, this means being seamlessly integrated into screens, digital platforms, and speech-based systems. Young generations, in particular, rely on digital platforms for communication. To revitalize, preserve, and strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ Languages, the languages must be fully usable in these spaces.
Digital literacy, skills and capacities, and lifelong access to digital learning needs, should take into account the specific social, cultural and linguistic needs of each society. This includes persons of all ages and backgrounds to ensure that they meaningfully and securely use the Internet and safely navigate the digital space, including Indigenous Peoples.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the technological landscape, with vast implications for the development of Indigenous Peoples’ languages and the technological solutions and services that can be provided in these languages. We need to address this challenge and take advantage of the opportunities that AI can present. Norway is now launching a Sami AI network that brings together stakeholders across Sápmi (Norway, Sweden, Finland). This initiative highlights how AI is reshaping the technological landscape — and how Norway is taking steps to ensure that Indigenous languages are included in this transformation.
If we do not ensure that the Indigenous Peoples languages are included in technological advancements, we risk contributing the process of cultural assimilation.
We see that Indigenous Peoples languages all over the world face many of the same challenges. Technology companies, in particular, have failed users of Indigenous Peoples languages. Despite multilingual data systems functioning for over 40 years, Indigenous Peoples languages still lack access to these platforms. To make a real difference, we need the large tech companies to step up further. We acknowledge the progress that has been made. Still, we continue to urge the large technology companies, like Microsoft and Apple, to support the development and availability of digital tools for the Indigenous Peoples’ languages, with active participation from the communities.
Norway is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with so many committed member states and organizations through the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages and other key forums, such as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Together, we can pave the way for a future where the Indigenous Peoples languages are strengthened.
Thank you.