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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Koonoo Muckpaloo has experienced her share of hardship in her search for basic services, especially at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

The three-year Yellowknife resident only speaks Inuktitut.

"Sometimes when they don't have a translator they just tell her to come back," she said, speaking through her son Kevin who was translating for her during a meeting held Tuesday to discuss possible improvements of the territories' Official Languages Act.

"She likes to be able to speak to the doctors to tell them what her problems are but she can't speak (English). She has a hard time."

The effectiveness of the legislation will be reviewed following a series of community meetings this fall.

The standing committee on the Official Languages Act met Tuesday at the legislative assembly to give citizens of Yellowknife the opportunity to voice their concerns about the legislation.

Even though it was a small turn out of eight people, it was clear to the committee co-chair, Yk Centre MLA Robert Hawkins, there are serious issues that need to be addressed.

"It's nights like tonight you hear real people," he said.

"I don't think people are getting the full services who actually need them. It's not a luxury, it's just simple basic services that are needed."

Hawkins said Muckpaloo is asking for a reasonable service that needs to be provided in her language.

"What's being highlighted here is health and safety," he said. "Do we have the services available for people and it's clearly highlighted that not for everyone. When we put people in jeopardy, the system starts to break down."

Aboriginal language advocate Elizabeth (Sabet) Biscaye put it into a perspective that spoke loudly to the committee.

"Try to imagine yourself being put in a hospital in a foreign country where they don't speak English," she said. "That's a situation we have going on right now."

Marta Moir, acting director of operations for Stanton Territorial Hospital was unavailable for comment.

The committee will visit communities all over the NWT with stops in Fort Resolution, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Dettah, Bechoko, Deline, Inuvik and Fort McPherson.

The Official Languages Act came into effect in 1984. Last reviewed in 2003, there were 65 recommendations made to improve it, along with a mandatory review after five years. The duty of this committee is to look at the administration and implementation of the act, the achievement and effectiveness of the act and the roles and responsibilities of the minister responsible for official languages, the official languages board, the aboriginal language revitalization board and the language commissioner.

An interim report will be tabled in October of this year and a final report in the spring of 2009. The final report will show the committee's findings during the review and offer any recommendations to improve the act.

Hawkins said one doesn't have to look far to see that there are serious issues that need to be addressed.

"People want to put pressure on the system on just simple demands," he said.