How language revitalization boosts Indigenous health
June 12, 2025
New research shows that reviving Indigenous languages may do more than preserve culture—it may also improve public health.
A new review, led by an interdisciplinary team from the University of British Columbia with participation from the University of Toronto and the University of Sydney, reinforcing what many Indigenous communities have long said: speaking and sustaining ancestral languages contributes to health and well-being.
About 78 per cent of the studies included in the review showed a positive link between Indigenous language vitality—such as speaking, teaching or revitalizing languages—and improved health outcomes, including better mental health, stronger educational performance, greater social connection and, in some cases, lower suicide rates.
- Research
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