Canada has appointed Dorothy Myo as its new Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, giving her the responsibility of leading national efforts to protect, preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages across the country.
Myo will officially assume the five-year appointment on November 12, 2026, replacing interim commissioner Candice St-Aubin, whose temporary tenure followed the departure of former commissioner Ron Ignace in July.
The appointment was announced by the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages on November 10 and reported publicly by The Canadian Press on Wednesday, November 11. It was made through a federal cabinet decision following consultations with Indigenous governments, governing bodies and organizations, in accordance with the Indigenous Languages Act.
Myo was raised in Saulteaux First Nation in Saskatchewan and brings considerable experience in Indigenous language preservation, cultural advocacy and policy development.
According to her professional profile, she speaks Saulteaux, Cree and English fluently. She most recently served as deputy chief of self-government and senior director of policy and research at Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.
She also previously led the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre, where she worked to preserve, protect and promote First Nations languages and cultures. Her professional background is expected to be relevant to the commission’s responsibility of supporting Indigenous communities in strengthening their languages.
The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages was established under the Indigenous Languages Act, which became law in 2019. It operates independently with a national mandate to promote and champion Indigenous languages while supporting efforts by Indigenous Peoples to reclaim, maintain and revitalize them.
Myo takes over at a challenging time for the organization. An audit of the commissioner’s office is underway following concerns about its operations and effectiveness.
Earlier reporting by The Canadian Press cited former employees and other sources who questioned whether the office had made sufficient progress in strengthening Indigenous languages and supporting research. The sources also raised concerns about workplace conditions, project delays and spending priorities.
Former commissioner Ron Ignace previously acknowledged that the office had faced challenges but maintained that it had established a foundation for continuing the work of language preservation. Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller also described the allegations as serious and emphasized the importance of accountability and due process.
The appointment comes as Indigenous communities across Canada continue working to protect languages threatened by declining numbers of fluent speakers and the loss of opportunities for younger generations to learn them.
As the new commissioner, Myo will be expected to help strengthen collaboration between Indigenous communities, governments and organizations while advancing initiatives that support language education, research and revitalization.
Her five-year term begins November 12, with attention likely to focus on how the commission can demonstrate meaningful progress in fulfilling its national mandate.
Swifteradio.com
