Inuit language authority already on the way

Recently, Mr. Peter Irniq wisely said that Nunavummiut need a language authority to oversee the protection and promotion of Inuktitut. I fully agree and I would like to describe the steps already taken to establish one.

Beginning in 2000, the Office of the Languages Commissioner began to develop recommendations for changes to the Official Languages Act and for the creation of an Inuit Language Protection Act. Since then, a cooperative working group has worked hard to develop the new legislation. This working group includes members from my office, the Department of Justice, the Department of Finance, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth, and from NTI.

The new Official Languages Act is now being drafted. This act will establish the Inuit language on equal terms with French and English as official languages of our territory. The Inuit Language Protection Act is also being developed by the working group. We expect to have these drafts finalized by 2006, at which time they will have to be passed by the Legislative Assembly.

The Inuit Language Protection Act will establish an Inuit Language Authority. The Inuit Language Authority will have the responsibility to develop and approve terminology, maintain and document historical terminology, standardize writing systems, address dialect issues, and develop policies to promote and protect the Inuit language throughout the territory. The ILA will also work with the GN to establish a system to qualify and certify interpreter/translators.

I want Nunavummiut to be assured that we are well on our way towards an Inuit Language Authority for Nunavut. I look forward to the very near future when it will be in place. Our languages are strong and vibrant, but we must work hard to keep them this way. Now is the time to speak our languages, to teach them to our children, to relearn them as adults, and to maintain our cultural heritage with commitment and pride.

Johnny PT Kusugak
Languages Commissioner of Nunavut