Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Panniqtuuq (Nov 04/02) - The residents of Panniqtuuq made sure their voices were heard at a public hearing last week on Nunavut's Official Languages Act.

Panniqtuuq resident Meeka Arnakaq doesn't want Inuktitut to die with the elders. - Christine Kay/NNSL photo

"The Inuktitut language is weakening," said Panniqtuuq resident Meeka Arnakaq.

She said if the government is supposed to be close to the people it needs to understand the language and use it regularly.

Arnakaq, also an adult educator on Inuit language and culture, wants to see more written material in Inuktitut as well.

"I feel that oral legends should be written in syllabics and Inuktitut," she said.

Unilingual resident Mosesee Qappik also wants to see Inuktitut used more.

He said no one should worry about all the different dialects while doing this. Qappik just wants to see Inuktitut protected well enough so it can survive.

"We were expecting when we got Nunavut that our language, Inuktitut, would be recognized," he said.

Qappik is disappointed it hasn't been recognized already outside of Nunavut.

He was born in the 1940s and said he didn't even know English existed when he was growing up.

Other residents who took part in the meeting brought up the need for more Inuktitut books, labels and signs.

The committee is expected to present its final report on the Act no later than February 2003.