More than 1,000 advocates and language experts from over 20 countries gathered in Victoria on June 24—26 for the 2019 International Conference on Indigenous Languages—HELISET TŦE SK̒ÁL Let the Languages Live. In celebration of the United Nations 2019 Year of Indigenous Languages, the conference focused on the revitalization of Indigenous languages worldwide. 

On behalf of the First Peoples' Cultural Council of BC (FPCC), lecturer Dr. Heather Bliss presented a summary of three research reports on the costs of Indigenous language revitalization and the role of the FPCC in the development of the recently passed Bill C-91 - Indigenous Languages Act. 

The recently passed Bill C-91 legislates protections and supports for Indigenous languages, with the federal government pledging $334 million in funding over the next five years to support the bill. Dr. Bliss' research will help the FPCC determine their best course of action in managing the funding in order to support the development of Indigenous languages revitalization. 

Dr. Marianne Ignace, a professor with the Department of Linguistics and First Nations Studies, also presented at the conference. She presented alongside her husband, Anthropology adjunct professor Chief Ron Ignace, on "Re-claiming and Revitalizing Secwepemc Story Through Language and Images".