Language centre founder awarded
Leena Evic calls recognition by Governor General empowering
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, January 25, 2016
OTTAWA
Leena Tatiggaq Evic, founder of the Pirurvik Centre, called recognition by the Governor General of Canada for her work promoting and preserving Inuktitut a special moment.
Leena Tatiggaq Evic, left, receives a Meritorious Service Cross from Gov. Gen. David Johnston on Dec. 11 in Ottawa. - photo courtesy of Office of the Secretary to the Governor General |
"It was a privilege to join a number of fellow Canadians under such recognition," said Evic about the December event in Ottawa's Rideau Hall, where she was presented a Meritorious Service Cross by Gov. Gen. David Johnston.
"I was surprised, myself, to receive the letter of invitation. Making it there in reality was pretty empowering."
She had one choice for someone to accompany her on the trip south, and she chose her 16-year-old grandson.
"I think it was a very interesting experience for him too," she said.
Evic founded the Pirurvik Centre in Iqaluit in 2003. It offers courses in Inuktitut, educational resources and professional support.
The centre also founded Ingalangaittukuurvik, a doctoral program that aims to capture, maintain and restore Inuit traditional knowledge and language.
"I believe in order for Inuktitut language to remain strong into future generations we must promote it, we must retain it and we must enhance it at all levels, at home, in the community, at service places and at the workplace," said Evic.
"To be proactive, we have to make sure that we have the tools to take us deep into the future... We must make Inuktitut on par with English through the Internet, through attractive learning materials, through our digitized devices like iPhones, iPads. We're trying to stay on top of things."
The Pirurvik Centre recently moved from Tundra Valley to Iqaluit's downtown core, which Evic says will help many of the students who attend regularly.
She says the next vision for the centre is to see its programs offered on a more full-time basis. Her dedication to preserving Inuktitut isn't going anywhere.
"Traditionally speaking, Inuktitut language was acquired through lifelong learning practice, so even as an adult I still had ahead of me elders to learn from at higher levels," said Evic about her philosophy on the language. "It's going to be crucial for us to have these mentors grounding us, having grounded us when it's our time to be the next knowledge keepers."
Rebecca Veevee, host and chef of the popular Inuit TV cooking show Niqitsiat, also received a Meritorious Service Medal at the same event.
She received the award for her dedication to promoting a return to traditional Inuit foods and commitment to combating poor nutrition in Northern communities.
In an e-mail, Veevee told Nunavut News/North she was delighted to receive the award, and it shows that people have recognized her work to improve nutrition of the Inuit people and show it is not that difficult to cook for one's family.
Veevee is also very happy that the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation's work is judged to be of value to the rest of Canada.
