Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Feb 15/02) - A review of the Official Languages Act of the NWT last week turned into a discussion on how to preserve aboriginal languages.

About 30 people turned out for the meeting at Ingamo Hall Feb. 6.

Official languages Chipeywan, Cree, Dogrib, English, French, Gwich'in, Inuktitut and Slavey, which includes North and South Slavey.

Special committee chair Tu Nedhe MLA Steven Nitah explained the assembly is carrying out a mandatory review of the languages act, which was last amended in 1990.

A territorial languages assembly was held last October, and community consultations took place last November and December, and are taking place currently, in all language regions of the NWT. The special committee will hold public hearings in Yellowknife March 26-27 and submit an interim report this summer.

A second territorial languages assembly will take place this fall, and the special committee will submit its final report to the assembly in the spring of 2003.

Aside from Nitah, other committee members are deputy chair Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko, Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Roger Allen, and Yellowknife South MLA Brendan Bell, as well as Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod, who was unable to attend last week's meeting.

Prior to their visit to Inuvik the committee had held hearings in several locations, including Fort Smith, Hay River Reserve, Fort Providence.

What members have heard so far, Krutko explained, "is that, in 10 years, for the amount of money that the government has spent on aboriginal languages, it's been declining."

The federal government contributes funds for French and aboriginal languages, and the GNWT contributes more funds for aboriginal languages.

"Why is it that there's a major decline in the number of people who are getting the services within the last number of years," Krutko said.

"Why is it that we are not enhancing the languages to make them stronger? Why are they getting weaker?"

Members of the public made numerous suggestions on how to enhance aboriginal languages, including a stronger emphasis on teaching children in schools. A plea was made for officials to not forget middle aged people, as many have not retained their language like elders have.

People pointed out that aboriginal languages often are not used in homes, or at social gatherings.

A sense of urgency was evident during the evening.

"If anything's going to happen it has to happen now," Krutko said. "We can't wait another 10 years."

Similar concerns

After the meeting, Nitah said the evening was productive, and that similar concerns were raised earlier in the week at hearings in Tuktoyaktuk and Holman.

"It's very consistent across the territories so far," Nitah said.

"The message is that we've got to retain languages any way possible, and (we) definitely have to teach it through the school system in an immersion program. And we have to do something about young adults who want to learn."