Nunavut francophone association expresses support for Inuktut-language education

The Association des francophones de Nunavut expressed its support for Inuktut-language education in a Feb. 10 letter addressed to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Aluki Kotierk.

In an interview with Nunatsiaq News, AFN president Mylène Chartrand said they decided to publish the letter after NTI asked for their support.

“I think it’s nice for people to know that we are trying to collaborate and work together on language rights. There’s four official languages in Nunavut. We’re not against each other. Definitely not. We’re all trying to work together to ensure everybody is able to have access to services and education in the language of their choice,” Chartrand said.

The letter states the AFN supports Inuit in “pursuing their right to Inuktut language of instruction.”

“Our organization believes that Inuit, in their own homeland, a territory of which has a majority of Inuit citizens, should have access to Inuktut language education and government services,” the letter states.

“The AFN is aware of these challenges and benefits of accomplishing such a plan.”

In an email to Nunatsiaq News, Kotierk said NTI was pleased to receive the letter of support from the territory’s francophone community.

“Due in part to existing language laws which treat Inuktut language as inferior to languages such as English and French, even within our own homeland, many services, including essential services such as access to health care, justice and education are not available in the Inuktut language,” Kotierk wrote.

“It is our intention to continue working with affected stakeholders and partners to address the need for adequate access to programs and services in Nunavut, including in the Inuktut language.”

Chartrand said that by supporting each other, language groups in Nunavut can show strength in advocating for language rights.

“In Nunavut, there’s four official languages and there’s rights and right now people feel like they’re not always being respected. And that’s why we need each other’s support to attain the success of all the different languages in Nunavut,” Chartrand said.

“At this point we’re just expressing our support in a letter, but would like to get the conversation and collaboration to keep going between our two organizations,” Chartrand said.

The AFN’s letter follows recent statements from several groups in Nunavut at a hearing last fall on Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Education Act and Inuit Language Protection Act, about the territory’s francophone education system.

In a submission to the Nunavut government’s standing committee on legislation last year, Jedidah Merkosak, chair of the Coalition of Nunavut DEAs, proposed amendments to Bill 25 that mirror French-language legislation in Nunavut.

“For Inuktut and English language learners the governance system is complicated, centralized and comparatively underfunded, with minimal community or Inuit control. For francophone language learners the system is simple, direct and community driven,” Merkosak wrote.

“Our approach is founded on confirming for Inuktut/English students, parents and communities rights equal to those available to the francophones in law in Nunavut.”