PRESS RELEASE

Languages Reiterates Need for Protection Act

Iqaluit – Tuesday, October 21, 2003 – With the Fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly set to begin today, and the Special Committee to review the Official Languages Act expected to present their findings during that time, Eva Aariak, Languages Commissioner of , is reminding Nunavummiut of the importance of her recommendations to amend the Official Languages Act, especially the creation of an Inuktitut Protection Act.

“Language is a defining issue for Nunavummiut and the Government of Nunavut,” Aariak says. “The recently released Initial Findings from Statistics Canada’s 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey underscores this fact and has been widely reported. We can be proud of the relative strength of Inuktitut but we should never lose sight of the fact that ours is a language that has been in steady decline for decades, and the last two Stats Can censuses bear this out. That being said, we know there is a very strong sense that we must do everything in our power to protect and enhance Inuktitut.”

Aariak is hopeful the Special Committee will follow through on the momentum generated by the positive feedback her 2001-2002 Annual Report received.

“Nunavummiut want Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun to receive status equal to English and French. This is necessary to ensure that Inuktitut and culture are encouraged to thrive in all aspects of day to day life in Nunavut. Special measures are imperative to reach this end, and for the government to reach the goals set out in the Bathurst Mandate.

“An Inuktitut Protection Act would ensure that Nunavut’s majority language is treated as such, ensuring that neither the language nor its speakers are discriminated against.”

While the Languages Commissioner awaits the Special Committee’s response, she encourages Nunavummiut to contact her office for more information on her recommendations and to continue to let their voices be heard.

Source: Jonathan Dewar, Public Affairs Officer (867) 975-5102 [email protected]

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