Arctic aboriginal leaders plan to meet in Norway this fall to discuss the circumpolar world's indigenous languages, many of which have shrinking numbers of speakers.

More than 40 delegates, representing 30 to 40 different languages, will meet in Tromso, Norway, for the Arctic Indigenous Languages Symposium on Oct. 20-21.

The two-day symposium is being organized by the Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada and the Saami Council of northern Scandinavia.

"It's to get the circumpolar indigenous groups together to discuss the status of their languages, to try and come up with ideas in regards to revitaliz[ing] it," Duane Smith, president of Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada, told CBC News on Monday.

Smith, who is from the Inuvialuit region of the western Arctic, said many in his own generation of Inuvialuit people do not know their mother tongue enough to use it.

Similar scenarios are unfolding in other areas of the circumpolar world, he said.

"For the most part, they're not being used enough with the younger generations in the circumpolar Arctic and they're not being well-promoted by their respective regions," he said.

About 16 delegates from the governments of eight Arctic nations are also invited, along with guest speakers.

Carl Christian Olsen of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Greenland said governments have been invited because they need to get more closely involved on the issue of indigenous languages.

"We'll be able to develop a better dialogue with them," he said.