Quebec Indigenous CEGEP students call on government to rethink Bill 96, French language reform

As the passing of Quebec’s Bill 96 – the province’s overhaul of its French-language laws – is looming, Indigenous students who attend English colleges, known as CEGEPS, are calling on the government to rethink its requirement to impose three extra courses in French and a French exam to graduate. They say this only creates more barriers for Indigenous students.

“Indigenous students are already having difficulties at the secondary level and this will just create more trouble for us,” said first-year Dawson College student, Angela Ottereyes.

Some say the requirement will only create more barriers for the Indigenous population.

“Many native students in different communities aren’t proficient in French,” said Gracie Diabo, VP Academic of the Student Union of John Abbott College. “In my community, for example, barely anybody speaks French, so most people would go to Anglophone CEGEPS.”

For many of Quebec’s Indigenous population, French is sometimes a third or fourth language.

“I have children, this will for sure affect them,” said Ottereyes.

Ottereyes is from the Cree community of Waskaganish in Northern Quebec.

Angela Ottereyes with two of her children Ayah and Germain. (Photo Courtesy: Angela Ottereyes)

“So what do I do now? Do I stop teaching my kids and just focus more on English or start teaching them more French? It’s kind of frustrating,” she said. “Why are they trying to force their language on us? It’s just like assimilation all over again.”

The new requirements would come into effect in 2024, but for current CEGEP students, it could still impact their future and R scores – the way Quebec college students’ academic performances are measured – and used by universities for admissions

“When I did two French courses last year, my grade wasn’t that high, so imagine me doing another French course, which would probably be more advanced,” Ottereyes said. “My R scores are going to go down again, so I will probably have a hard time getting into the university I want to go to.”

For Diabo, a second-year CEGEP student, she says the thought of three French courses is terrifying.

“I can speak French, but it’s not the best,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to do as well as I’m expected to if these conditions were added.”

RELATED:

• Quebec language law: some businesses fear impact of Bill 96, consider leaving province
• English Montreal CEGEP students protest against Quebec’s proposed language reforms
• Compromise made to Bill 96, English-speaking students still unhappy about impacts

The National Assembly’s session resumes May 10 and the Bill is expected to be voted on by the time they break for summer in June.

Ottereyes is now reconsidering her and her children’s futures.

“[I’ll] probably tell them to go to college in Ontario, and I think that’s something that I’m thinking about, just transferring to an Ontario college,” she said.

Meanwhile, others in the Indigenous community are calling for the government to consult more.

“Even if it does pass, we still have to keep pressuring the government to re-analyze what they’re doing here,” Diabo said.

“I really do hope our Indigenous government does step in and try to have this meeting with Quebec and have the Indigenous population be exempt,” said Ottereyes