Language barriers create confusion for elders picking up prescriptions: MLA
Kugluktuk MLA Bobby Anavilok calls on GN to improve translation resources at community health centres
Kugluktuk MLA Bobby Anavilok, standing far right, speaks Tuesday at the legislative assembly. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Nunavut’s government should improve translation services at health centres because elders get concerned when they don’t receive information they need about their prescription medications, Kugluktuk MLA Bobby Anavilok says.
“When information about [elders’] medication is not available in the language that the patients understand, this can lead to confusion and fear and reluctance to take the medication,” he said in a member’s statement Tuesday in the legislative assembly.
Many of the elders in his community are unilingual Inuinnaqtun speakers who have concerns about ensuring they are being properly prescribed medication, he said.
He also called on the government to work with Inuit organizations to ensure every community has someone at its health centre who can communicate in the local dialect.
During question period, Anavilok asked Health Minister John Main what’s available for interpretation services at health centres.
Main said clerk interpreters work at health centres and provide prescription-related translation services in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun where written materials are not available.
“We’ve initiated a common translations of medication project, and we’re working with retail pharmacies on this to ensure that Nunavummiut have access to information about their medications in the language of choice,” he said.
Main said the project is still in the works.
As a follow-up, Anavilok asked Main if he would ensure dialect-specific tools will be made available as part of project development.
“I don’t want to commit to something that may be already committed to or it’s already being worked on,” Main said. “However, I can certainly look into the issue, specifically to [Anavilok’s] questions around Inuinnaqtun, in particular, and see what considerations have been given..
“I can also commit to looking into what resources are available, specifically around pharmaceutical terminology.”
So what’s the real problem here? Are the clerk-interpreters not showing up for work? Translating the nurse’s explanation of the medications is their job. Are they out of Inuinnaqtun speakers in these communities? Not much can be done about that, as the people have chosen that they prefer english, and Inuinnaqtun has not been passed down to the younger generations.
They must communicate somehow within their own families, so somebody in their immediate or extended family should be able to give them a hand with translation, if the health centre doesn’t have anyone, or if the employees there won’t show up for work. There aren’t bubbles of Inuinnaqtun speakers with no contact to anyone who can interpret for them.
Under the current leadership in Nunavik loss of language continues steadily moving forward is the term favoured by said leaders. This despite millions and millions given by Quebec to organizations such as our Cultural Institute! Shame!
Aren’t them Kitikmeot Inuit elders speak English very well?, I once offered to translate for an elder in her 80’s and she said no need for it, it turned out she spoke English way better than myself 😂
I think Bobby just wanted to get it on record that he was in attendance for the sitting. This is not a problem at all. You can count the unilingual elders on one hand with a finger or two to spare. And there are staff there to help, though not all are fluent, they can get the information communicated.
The languageo loss doesn’t mean a thing.
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There ARE unilngual people in Kugluktuk and are entitled to translated materials.
I don’t care if you can count on one hand or ten hands
People must know what .medical instructions they are given . I wonder what you would say if english wasn’t used when you have to go to the clinic.
Relax Paul. The point is the service already exists. There are already clerk/interpreters on staff. Perhaps the MLA should pay a visit to confirm this before he makes an issue where there is none.
Then go help them John! Much cheaper and faster if a family member act as a translator. This problem is not unique to Nunavut, come off your high horse.
The elders could have done a better job of keeping the language alive by insisting that their children and grandchildren learned the language. Kugluktuk has a history of very outspoken language advocates, some of whom served at influential levels in education and public service (commissioner for languages, executive director of education, teachers, principals, etc). They served on language revitalization working groups and spoke passionately about the importance of innuinaqtun to culture. But none (literally zero) of these individuals taught their children to read and write the language. Easier to tell others what to do than to do it themselves I guess. Sadly it is likely too late to reverse at this point.
The majority of medications, especially those that patients take each day or for long periods, are provided by retail pharmacies. These for-profit retail pharmacies should be providing medication education and instruction in the patients preferred language. Are these businesses compliant with the Inuit Languages Protection Act? Where is the Language Commissioner and is she holding their feet to the fire?
This should fall under the purview of the language Commissioner. Unfortunately Nunavut hasn’t had an effective one of those in its history.
BOBBY FOR PREMIER!!!1