Language gets boost
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, August 22, 2016
IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY
Nunavut Arctic College is offering a certificate course in aboriginal language revitalization for the second year in row.
The program, a partnership with the University of Victoria and the GN's Department of Culture and Heritage, is made up of nine short courses, said Louise Flaherty, the college's director of Inuit language and culture.
This is not a specialized offering for teachers or others in the field of language.
"It's for people who are interested in learning how to revitalize the language," said Flaherty, who is a passionate language advocate.
The first module, for example, is titled Dynamics of Indigenous Language Shift and introduces the human dynamics - and political and social factors - associated with indigenous language shift and language loss, including the profound psychological, intellectual and spiritual effects on individuals, families, communities and cultures. Language revitalization is explored as a source of healing and empowerment, according to the program outline.
Other modules include:
Language and Land, Introductory Linguistics for Language Revitalization, Issues, Principles and Practices in Language Revitalization, Language Learning, Language Revitalization and Social Action, Field Methods for Language Revitalization: Documentation and Recording and Field Methods for Language Revitalization: Project Development.
The whole program runs from mid-October to mid-May.
"We have 10 people that still need three courses because they started late (last year). When we offered it, summer school is never an ideal time to do it because people are out on the land gathering and preparing meat. So there were three courses missed then. They will be able to finish it in this delivery."
One of those students is Sarah Jancke.
"This program has been an eye opening life experience for myself as a young Inuk woman from the Kitikmeot," said Jancke.
"It has given me a strong understanding and foundation when designing and planning for our language and cultural program in the region within Kitikmeot Inuit Association. This program has also challenged me to reflect on the history of language for myself as a young Inuk."
Jancke encourages anyone interested in language revitalization "to apply for this amazing opportunity that is being offered in Cambridge Bay."
Four other students are one course short.
One person did complete the program last year and Flaherty hopes to see all 15 people complete the program with a certificate.
But she also hopes to see healthy enrollment by newcomers.
"The more we train, the more people we will have advocating for Inuinnaqtun and becoming instrumental in engaging community and to work toward revitalizing our language," said Flaherty.
The program is about aboriginal language revitalization generally, not specifically Inuit languages.
"Understanding language is not scary. This is a first step in understanding about the shift and how to become someone who advocates and who starts working on community initiatives and moving towards using language at the community level."
Flaherty says the University of Victoria has been recognized as making great inroads in language revitalization.
"Our Sami colleagues have been going over there to learn about this certificate program and how to offer it. It's practical and not intimidating."
Previously, educator and language advocate Millie Kuliktana and Suzie Evyagotailak, both of Kugluktuk, took the certificate program at the University of Victoria with Mohawk and Okanagan First Nations students in 2005-2006.
"The language has not been lost, but it needs revitalization amongst the younger generation," Kuliktana told Nunavut News/North last year.
"There's so much hope, now. There's so much hope as people are trying."
The cost of tuition, travel and accommodation is covered for participants in the program.
