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NUNAVUT
Welcoming Language Commissioner Alexina Kublu's 2010-11 annual report, Pangnirtung's MLA lamented the reluctance of new Nunavummiut to learn Inuktitut, recalling a time when "teachers, RCMP and clergy tried really hard to learn the language."

Hezakiah Oshutapik made the comments as members of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts heard from Kublu.

"Now that we have Acts, we have target dates for when Inuktitut will be used in government," Oshutapik said. "But, the private sector and federal government don't even try to learn our language."

"This is not new," Kublu replied.

However, private sector and federal agencies will be forced to provide services in Inuktitut eventually as part of the Inuit Language Protection Act. Some businesses have been progressive in complying, including Frobisher Inn, NorthwesTel, Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association, and Isuma TV, her report noted.

"We're very proud of their work toward compliance with the act," Tununiq MLA Joe Enook said, asking Kublu if there were any businesses seeking exemption from compliance.

No, she said, to which Enook asked if federal agencies approached about their compliance requirements. They are exempt from the Official Languages Act because Canada has its own version that protects the status of English and French. While the Nunavut version also protects Inuit languages, federal agencies are not exempt from the Inuit Language Protection Act, Kublu said.

"Section 3 of the Act imposes obligations on all, including federal agencies," she said. "To date, the Nunavut government needs to comply, and that's what we're focusing on, but if there are concerns, we will use the Inuit Language Protection Act."

Kublu's job is to act as an ombudsman, advocate, adviser and monitor for the protection of all four official languages, making Nunavummiut aware of their language rights.

The Official Languages Act affects only the legislative assembly, Government of Nunavut departments, boards and agencies, and Nunavut courts, requiring them to give equal status to all three languages. Under the Inuit Language Protection Act, any service provided to the public - including municipal and federal government agencies, as well as businesses - must be able to offer services in an Inuit language.

Each business would provide the commissioner's office with a language plan, she said, with exemptions only in cases of hardship. If they cannot offer the services of an Inuktitut speaker all day, for example, they could offer signage or printed materials that explain their services.

In the Act, signage provided has to be in Inuktitut and another language. Kublu used the example of Iqaluit's Baffin Canners, which has francophone owners. They could offer signage in Inuktitut and French if they chose, to the exclusion of English, but not only in English and/or French.

Nunavut is following the lead of the Quebec language laws to protect the Inuit language in printed materials such as signage. Unique in Canada, Nunavut is the only jurisdiction with legislation that protects an indigenous language, she said.

In her opening statement, though, she expressed disappointment that the Official Languages Act missed its deadline for implementation, asking "how can we expect compliance from territorial institutions and subsequently municipalities and the private sector if the Minister of Languages (James Arreak) sets this example?"

And with Inuit languages marked as endangered in two communities and vulnerable in every other community in Nunavut, action needs to be taken. To help people know their rights, the Language Commissioner's office is broadening its communications to include radio PSAs, advertising geared to elders, and letters addressed to individuals on the NTI mailing list. It will also work with the communications teams at the Departments of Education and Culture, Language, Elders and Youth to spread the word.

"We have lots of concerns about the state of language," Kublu said. "We know there is a further decline in the use of Inuit language and, along with Nunavummiut, we're working to turn the tide. They have the right to ask for services in the language of their choice. That right has always been there, but we're being more aggressive about telling people that they have this right."

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