Iqaluit (Feb 28/05) - A change in policy at the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) has the network and Nunavut's most acclaimed filmmaker speaking different languages.

The APTN is asking for a multi-language format (versioning) to accompany all future projects submitted for licensing and development.

The policy would require a production shot in Inuktitut to have versions dubbed in English and/or French, as well as one or more other aboriginal languages.

With the new direction, sub-titling would no longer be acceptable.

That means in the future a production such as the award-winning film Atanarjuat would not be acceptable to the aboriginal television network in its present form.

That has Inuit filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk more than a little upset. Kunuk's Atanarjuat won the Camera d'or for best first feature at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

The Inuktitut film, which uses English sub-titles, also took home six Genie Awards that same year.

Kunuk said the mandate of Igloolik Isuma Productions is to preserve Inuit language and culture.

He said any programs the company makes will feature Inuktitut, with other languages being sub-titled.

"That's our policy, plain and simple," said Kunuk. "We don't do dubs.

"Our work has been featured in more than 20 countries and this is the first time we've had to address this. It's embarrassing because it's here in Canada."

Kunuk said the change in APTN's policy is distracting him from his work.

"Of all the networks, why the APTN? If TV Ontario came up with that policy, I would think, 'Of course, it's English, we'll have to make them understand.'

"But, to be in a position where you have to make the APTN understand - if I didn't know it was true, I would say it's unbelievable."

The APTN has consulted with aboriginal people across Canada for the past year.

Network CEO Jean LaRose said the issue of language preservation is foremost on the minds of all aboriginal peoples in Canada, whether they be First Nations, Inuit or Metis.

He said viewers want to hear the stories of other aboriginal peoples, but in a way they can understand.

"There seems to be this reaction that we're trying to sideline Inuktitut or other Inuit languages and that's not the case at all," said LaRose.

"We want to help Inuit maintain their language while, at the same time, help other aboriginal peoples hear the story.

"Let's face it, there are many aboriginal people in Canada who have lost their language and need to hear the story in English or French."

The conditions of the APTN's license from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requires the network to have 60 per cent of its programming in English, 15 per cent in French and 25 per cent in aboriginal languages.

Of the 25 per cent in aboriginal languages, Inuktitut makes up 23 per cent.

"Inuktitut is almost a totality of the aboriginal language programming we do, but we want to offer it in other languages, eventually using Secondary Audio Programming (SAP)," said LaRose.

"Until SAP becomes available, we want to air a show in its original version, but, during periods of the day we have repeats, we want to air it in another language version.

"That's the simplest way I can put it."