Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 28/02) - Daniel Cuerrier, the executive director of Nunavut's Francophone Association, moved to Nunavut 15 years ago. He left behind his home in Montreal, but brought a part of it with him -- his language and his culture.

Daniel Cuerrier: "Ever since I was a young man I dreamt of the North."-

Together with eight other members of the association, he works to make sure francophones have access to education in French, and have a little fun as well.

News/North: Why did you come North?

Daniel Cuerrier: I don't really know. Honest. Ever since I was a young man I dreamt of the North and of course like dreams when you stick your feet into reality nothing is like you expected except for of course a few things. I just fell in love with the place.

N/N: What were you imagining?

DC: I guess I was like most people who don't know much about the North. I knew of course that the Inuit were living in houses, but I didn't have an idea of how developed the North was, how accessible goods and services are. Most of the time we complain that they are not accessible, but for the most part they are. They're awfully expensive but we can get anything we want. I know that a lot of people complain about the lack of leisure activities like going to the theatre or having access to a variety of restaurants. This is very limited here. The thing is that if you decide to live up here, you have to adopt some of the ways of the land. Enjoy yourself outside. It's wonderful.

N/N : How did you become involved with the Francophone Association?

DC: By accident. I quit construction in 1991 and I took a course as an interpreter/translator. I got certified but back in those days there wasn't much work. There was an opening here (Francophone Association). The person who was here left to move back down South. I applied for the position and got it. It's out of sheer luck, I guess.

N/N : Why was the association formed in the first place?

DC: For Hockey Night in Canada. We joke a lot about it but the reason for setting up the association was to get the Radio Canada French television signal in Nunavut. People got together and petitioned the CBC organization. They got 500 signatures but they turned them down. People got together, funded the association, raised money for the equipment and got the signal from Radio Canada to transmit in Iqaluit. Up until the year 2000, if there was a Radio Canada signal in Iqaluit it was because of the association.

N/N : Who takes care of it now?

DC: It's been turned over to the local cable network.

N/N : What is it that is attracting people from French communities to Iqaluit?

DC: I think there are as many reasons as people coming up. First and foremost, for me, is the adventure. The challenge is trying to develop one's skills in a different environment. For lots of people, it's being part of the Nunavut challenge. We look at it as something wonderful and different that can happen. We would like to take part in it and bring something to it.

N/N : What are some of the other challenges keeping the French culture and language alive in Nunavut?

DC: Living in a minority situation is an everyday challenge if you want to hang on to your culture and language. French education, it dates back to 1984 when people started to require French programs for the kids. The community radio was also another battle both to get the funding and recruit volunteers to keep it going.

It's even more challenging and maybe even more fun to have to do it in Nunavut.

N/N : Why is it more difficult in Nunavut?

DC: The Inuit population is a vast majority, the dominant language is still English. There are lots and lots of similarities between the Inuit wanting to preserve and promote their language and culture and the French doing the same thing. It's trying to fit the puzzle together. We don't talk about only two languages and cultures and we don't talk about only official languages of Canada. We must make room for the expansion and promotion of Inuktitut as well.

N/N : What was the Francophone Association's role in making Ecole des Trois-Soleils a reality?

DC: Students and teachers moved in last December. The official opening took place in April of 2002. It goes from pre-kindergarten to Grade 9. At this point in time there are no students in Grade 9. Basically the Francophone Association did the work getting the school built. This was done in partnership with what we call today the French DEA (L'Administrative Scolaire de District Francophone). Now that the school is built, the French DEA administers it.

N/N : How does the Francophone Association keep up with its social calendar? There is a oyster party, a Halloween party, a country night...

DC: It was always a way of promoting the French language and culture. We want other people to know that we are not people coming from another planet. On the Friday lunches, probably half the people are not francophone. We open the doors to every culture. First, it's an opportunity for the French speaking people to have fun, meet each other and speak French in an environment different than their own house. As soon as you go out your front door, you start speaking English in Iqaluit. Second, it's an opportunity for other people to come and join with us and have fun with us.

N/N : Can anyone join the association?

DC: The membership of the Francophone Association is also made up of people who are not allergic to the French fact. Out of about 160 members, there are probably over 30 of them who are English speaking or Inuit people. They are members with the same rights and privileges.

N/N : Does the association offer courses in French?

DC: It happened this fall. This year we have the human resources so we have set up some night courses at the association which are very popular.

We offer group and private lessons. One other thing we have dreamt about for years is giving Inuktitut courses to the French people. This year we also have that window of opportunity.

N/N : Are you speaking Inuktitut yet?

DC: No. I only have miscellaneous words here and there that I know and remember.

N/N : How large is the population of francophones in Nunavut?

DC: Exactly, no. We think it's in the neighbourhood of eight to nine hundred and about 600 of them being in Iqaluit. We do have members in several communities. If I remember right we have members in Arviat, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.

N/N : What are your responsibilities as executive director?

DC: Making sure that things don't fall apart. I'm more concentrated on the political aspects like the new Education Act.

N/N : What are the plans for the future?

DC: Being part of the social tissue of Nunavut, being able to be heard by our government. Getting actual French services, quality services. Reaching a deal about education so the new Education Act abides by Section 23 of the Charter and bringing more and more tourists to Nunavut.

I may very well live for the rest of my life here but I don't know. I first came up for a two-year contract and it's been 15 years. I don't know.