Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 06/98) - There's nobody in Cambridge Bay and only a few people in Nunavut who do not know the name Attima.

If it is possible, Attima Hadlari's name is going to become better known in the future.

Last month, the Cambridge Bay translator, interpreter, drummer, dog-whip expert and drum-maker was appointed the first director of the newly established Nunavut language bureau.

"I was very excited," Hadlari, 47, said last week. "It's going to be very challenging for me. There's a lot of work ahead, and it will probably be years before we see any results."

A resident of Cambridge Bay for the last 11 years, Hadlari was born in Taloyoak. The father of three spent six years in Yellowknife before moving to the Kitikmeot.

He was appointed to the position by Nunavut's deputy minister of culture, language and youth, Peter Ernerk.

"I think (the appointment) has to do with me working in the language field as an interpreter and translator for many years," Hadlari said.

Hadlari said the new job will make use of what he has been doing all along.

"I've always been trying to promote Inuit culture and language, in the NWT and in other countries," he said.

Hadlari has demonstrated traditional Inuit drumming and his skill with a dog whip in Mexico, Japan, Paris, Monaco and Italy, as well as all over the NWT.

Three Inuktitut specialists and a secretary, in addition to Hadlari, will make up the bureau staff. Hadlari is now hunting for office space for in Cambridge Bay.

The bureau will provide translation services for government and work with schools in an attempt to ensure the survival of Inuktitut.

"We are going to promote Inuktitut not only in the communities, but in the transportation systems, like airplanes and airports, as well," said Hadlari.

"One of the reasons we have this office in the Kitikmeot is that the language is dissolving really fast in this area, compared to the Eastern Arctic," explained Hadlari.