Language serves as a vital link to identity, culture, and community. By fostering connections to heritage and community, language plays a crucial role in protecting against social isolation, depression, and various health inequalities.
Enhancing Indigenous Health Determinants
Three decades ago, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples highlighted that revitalizing Indigenous languages would be essential for fostering healthy individuals and communities. As per the First Nations Health Council (FNHC), revitalizing languages is an important social determinant of health, which, according to the World Health Organization, refers to “the circumstances in which individuals are born, grow, work, live, and age, along with the broader dynamics and systems influencing daily life.”
The FNHC’s comprehensive 10-Year Strategy on Social Determinants of Health outlines strategies that First Nations are employing to enhance health outcomes for Indigenous communities, focusing on areas such as early childhood development, health service access, education, language, and cultural traditions.
A review conducted in June 2025 analyzed 262 studies from both academic and community contexts across Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand, revealing that learning ancestral languages has beneficial effects on the mental and emotional health of Indigenous individuals.
Attending language classes, whether virtual or in-person, fosters social support, enhancing one’s sense of identity and community connection. This inclusion nourishes self-esteem and spiritual well-being, countering feelings of isolation and fostering resilience.
When individuals engage in healthy reciprocal relationships, they find their hearts uplifted, and their mind, body, spirit, and emotions achieve a better balance. A strong sense of identity is crucial for mental health, as those who feel complete tend to steer clear of risky health behaviors.
Health Outcomes: Rural Versus Urban
A systematic review that incorporated 130 studies, published in 2022 concluded that “the use and revitalization of language are protective factors in the health of Indigenous communities.” The Canadian Aboriginal Peoples Survey provided evidence showing that Indigenous individuals fluent in their languages had lower rates of asthma, bowel disorders, obesity, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
However, the 2025 review reported two studies indicating that the psychological benefits of Indigenous language fluency appeared mostly significant for individuals living in rural areas. Researchers from one study suggested that urban Indigenous populations face heightened stress due to navigating their marginalized cultures alongside a dominant colonial society.
Many Indigenous individuals are actively seeking healing from the trauma passed down through generations and the effects of colonization. Language serves as a key to understanding culture, perspectives, and values, facilitating the establishment (or rejuvenation) of identity and belonging.
The National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health emphasizes that Indigenous languages are “closely linked to traditional lands and environments” and that “the community’s health is synonymous with the health of the land.” Engaging in land-based activities significantly contributes to physical health and the healing process from trauma.
The Impact of Language Extinction on Medicinal Knowledge
The extinction of Indigenous languages threatens the existing knowledge regarding medicinal plants and significantly hinders the discovery of new medicines. Research in North America indicates that 86 percent of unique medicinal knowledge is safeguarded in languages that are now endangered.
As of 2021, around 40 percent of First Nations individuals residing on reserves could communicate effectively in an Indigenous language, in contrast to only 8 percent of those living off reserves. This highlights the necessity for culturally appropriate healthcare in reserve communities, particularly in Nunavut, where Inuktitut is the first language for 75 percent of Inuit.
A study released in 2018 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal noted that temporary or locum healthcare providers often rely on patients and other staff as informal translators, often lacking a comprehensive understanding of medical terminology, resulting in potential misdiagnoses.
In regions like Nunavut, the unavailability of prescription labels in Inuktitut can lead to medical errors, inappropriate medication use, and misunderstandings in medical guidance. The absence of culturally safe healthcare settings also fosters a sense of alienation among patients, who may feel disrespected.
A Pathway to Well-being
While learning an ancestral language is not an instant solution to the repercussions of colonization and intergenerational trauma, it is a proven avenue for enhancing health results among Indigenous peoples.
“Emerging research highlights a direct relationship between Indigenous language revitalization and improved health,” states Aliana Parker, the language program director for the First Peoples’ Cultural Council. “Indigenous languages cultivate strong identities rooted in community, spirituality, and place. These profound connections yield resilience and wellness. By acknowledging and honoring the significance of these irreplaceable languages and those who preserve them, we provide the environment for them to flourish.”
This article was initially featured in the February 2026 edition of Thewindowsclubs magazine.
