NUNAVUT
Inuit will be one step closer to deciding on a unified language system by the end of the month.

Jaypeetee Arnakak, one of two Nunavut members of Autausiq Inuktut Titirausiq, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's language task group, speaks with a microphone during consultations. - photo courtesy of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's (ITK) task group, Autausiq Inuktut Titirausiq, is hosting a summit, Unification of the Inuit Writing Language System, where it will report on its findings regarding one Inuit writing system.

"We've been informing people about the history of the writing systems, the current use, the current issues and situations with education and what it means to have a unified writing system," said Jeela Palluq-Cloutier, national Inuit language co-ordinator for ITK. "We've heard everything from 'absolute no' to 'yes, we've been taking about this for too long. Let's finally make a decision.'"

At the summit, members of the task group plan to share results from the series of consultations in recent months in all four regions of Inuit Nunangat, with the goal of drafting a recommendation headed for provincial, territorial and Inuit governments.

"And we have had several meetings and during the meetings I have been updating the task group on the research we have been doing here at the office and working with Carleton University's linguistic department," said Palluq-Cloutier.

The task group is made up eight members, two each from Nunavut, Nunavik and the Nunatsiavut and Inuvialuit regions.

The consultations took place in six Nunavut communities and three each in Nunavik and the Nunatsiavut and Inuvialuit regions. In Nunavut, they were held in Iqaluit, Iglulik, Pond Inlet, Rankin Inlet, Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay.

"For each meeting we had a public announcement saying anyone was welcome to attend. We also sent special invites to teachers, elders and youth that were identified in the community as people we wanted to hear from," said Palluq-Cloutier, adding the meetings were well attended in Nunavut.

Palluq-Coutier says the task group heard a wide range of comments.

"People adamantly saying we cannot let go of syllabics and people saying syllabics will always be there but roman orthography is the way to go now. We had participants that were undecided before our presentations and then leaned towards supporting our work."

Some of the support for a roman orthography system across the board stems from the fact that only two regions of all the regions in the area from Alaska to Greenland use syllabics. One writing system would support the sharing of teaching materials and international communication, and unify Inuktut-speaking people. Inuktut refers to the family of Inuit languages, including Inuktitut.

"We hope to have a decision made by the end of the summit about what writing system will be recommended for the regions," said Palluq-Cloutier.

"The final recommendation will be sent to the National Committee on Inuit Education. If approved, it will then be sent to the respective decision-making governments."

The recommendation would then be in the hands of governments for further decision-making.

ITK is neutral on the topic, said Palluq-Cloutier.

"We're co-ordinating the effort. We want the people to decide. But more and more we've been hearing people in support of the project (of one unified writing system)."

The summit takes place Aug. 25 and Aug. 26 at Iqaluit's parish hall. Attendance is by invitation.

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