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Nunavut Language Policy Conference: Report and Recommendations NUNAVUT LANGUAGE POLICY CONFERENCE: REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS IQALUIT, NUNAVUT MARCH 24-26,1998 Nunavut Implementation Commission ISBN 1-896548-28-8 L<LL5cn?YC Nunavut Hivumukpalianikhaagut Kat~mayit Nunavut Implementation Commission Commission d'etablissement du Nunavut Letter to the Reader June 30, 1998 Nunavut is fortunate to be one of a few jurisdictions in Canada in which the day-to-day use of an Aboriginal language remains widespread throughout the general population. Because so many of our people still speak Inuktitut, it provides the Nunavut Government with a rare opportunity, in a world increasingly dominated by the use of English, to promote an Aboriginal language as a functional and official language of government and society. Doing so, though, requires making sensible policy choices; ones that successfully marry the linguistic needs of the population with the practical realities of communication and the fiscal limitations of the modern world. It was with this problem in mind that the Nunavut Implementation Commission (NIC) recommended in Footprints 2, that the three parties the Nunavut Political Accord "... jointly convene ... a special Developing a Language Policy Conference, as a necessary step in pulling together an adequate societal consensus on the place of language in the future of Nunavut, with particular attention to the preservation and promotion of the lnuit language". It was hoped through a conference of this nature, enough sound policy advice would be provided, to enable decision makers to institute a balanced language policy. Nunavut at its outset, will be home to three Official languages; Inuktitut, English and French. English and French under the federal Official Languages Act are the official languages of Canada, with the language rights of all citizens protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Inuktitut, which includes lnuinnaqtun and Inuvialuktun, is currently an official language of the Government of Northwest Territories under its Official Languages Act. Because of the "grandfathering" provisions of the Nunavut Act, lnuktitut will automatically become an official language of Nunavut. Developing a suitable language policy for Nunavut will not be simple. lnuktitut in Nunavut encompasses the use of seven regional dialects, 17 subdialects, and two systems of writing. These dialects and writing systems are exclusive of those used by lnuit in other parts of Canada and the circumpolar world. Efforts of several previous language commissions and language policy conferences to bridge many of the language differences, failed to find across the board solutions acceptable to the public. And today, if lnuktitut is to survive as a primary language of communication in the electronic age of communication, we must find solutions to problems associated with the need for standardized linguistic practices required for use with new information technologies. P.O. Box 1109. Iqaluit. NT XOA OHO. Tel: (819)9794199 Fax: (819)979-6862 Policies regarding the day-to-day use of language in the governance of Nunavut, including such matters as; language use in the work place, government communication practices, language use in service and program delivery, language use and instruction in schools, official regulation of language use in the private sector, and a range of other language issues must all be integrated into a language policy that is linguistically sensible, socially progressive, and fiscally responsible. The findings of the conference appear as 50 recommendations at the end of this report. They are offered as a mix of language policy recommendations on a range of language issues, including, objectives, solutions and practices that the Nunavut Government might wish to consider. In the spirit of promoting and enhancing the use of lnuktitut in the work of the Nunavut Government and in its general usage throughout Nunavut society, while at the same time being cognizant of minority language rights and being fair in the application of a language policy for Nunavut, this report is offered to the reader. Sincerely yo John Amagoalik Chief Commissioner TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 1 Conference ............................................................................................................. 1 Agenda .................................................................................................................... 2 A Very Brief History ................................................................................................. 4 Comments by Delegates ......................................................................................... 6 Decisions/Advantages/Disadvantages .................................................................... 7 a) Some Advantages of Switching Entirely to Qaniujaaqpait (Syllabics)................ 7 b) Some Advantages of Switching Entirely to Qaliujaapait (Roman) ...................... 8 The Old Version ...................................................................................................... 8 a) Some Advantages .............................................................................................. 8 b) Some Disadvantages ......................................................................................... 8 The New Version (ICI standard).............................................................................. 9 a) Some Advantages ............................................................................................... 9 b) Some Disadvantages ......................................................................................... 9 c) A Note of Thanks ............................................................................................. 10 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES........................................................................ 11 Summary ............................................................................................................... 11 Comments by Delegates .......................................................................................12 Decisions ............................................................................................................... 12 LANGUAGE LEARNING. LANGUAGE TEACHING. AND CULTURE ...................14 Comments by Delegates ....................................................................................... 14 Decisions ...............................................................................................................16 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES CHALLENGES: PART 1.............................................. 17 Summary ............................................................................................................... 17 Comments by Delegates ....................................................................................... 19 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES CHALLENGES: PART 2 ............................................ 21 Interpretation and Translation .............................................................................. 21 Minority Language Issues.................................................................................... 22 Private Sector ...................................................................................................... 22 6.4 Current GNWLanguage Initiatives ....................................................................23 a) lnterpreter/Translator Certification Process ..................................................... 23 b) Proposed Transfer of Aboriginal Languages Funding to Language Communities ...................................................................................................23 7 . RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................... 25 a) Orthography ...................................................................................................... 25 b) Language Learning ...........................................................................................25 c) Language Teaching ..........................................................................................26 d) Language of Work ............................................................................................26 e) Language Services........................................................................................... 26 f) Training .............................................................................................................26 g) Resources......................................................................................................... 27 h) Media................................................................................................................ 27 i) Culture ............................................................................................................... 27 j) Nomenclature .................................................................................................... 28 k) Legislation and Policy Making.......................................................................... 28 I) Research and Follow Up ..................................................................................29 LIST OF APPENDICES Papers prepared for the Nunavut lmplementation Commission and presented at the Nunavut Language Policy Conference, Iqaluit, Nunavut, March 24-26, 1998. A. Status of Syllabic Writing System, Language and Culture: Its Impact on Society and the Youth and Incompatible Languages.
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