Iqaluit – Department of Canadian Heritage

The Government of Canada is providing the UNAAQ Cultural Society with $80,300 in funding through the Aboriginal Languages Initiative to develop, publish and distribute two books in Inuktitut for students in grades 4 to 12.

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Minister for the Arctic Council and Member of Parliament (Nunavut), made this announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

Quick Facts

• The project will produce a 48-page Inuktitut-language book about constellations and cosmology targeted to students in grades 4 to 8 and a 60-page book on the lore and folktales about the Little People targeted to students in grades 6 to 12.
• Up to 10 young people will be trained to interview and film Kivalliq Elders who have knowledge of constellations or folktales. Language specialists will transcribe each interview and edit the texts for the books.
• Five hundred copies of each book will be distributed to schools, early childhood education facilities, and the community library in Nunavut. They will also be available on the Nunavut Bilingual Education Society website.
• The Aboriginal Languages Initiative supports community-based language projects that contribute to the revitalization and preservation of Aboriginal languages.

Quotes

“Our Government is committed to supporting the revitalization and preservation of Aboriginal cultures and languages as living elements of Canadian society. They are an integral part of our country’s identity. I commend the UNAAQ Cultural Society for taking on the important role of intergenerational language transmission.”
—The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

“Through this investment, we are helping Inuktitut be seen and heard in communities, with important benefits today and for generations to come.”
—The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Minister for the Arctic Council and Member of Parliament (Nunavut)

“On behalf of the students and institutions that will benefit from this project, we are grateful to Canadian Heritage for helping us develop educational resources that promote Nunavut perspectives and history. The government’s funding will provide Inuktitut reading materials for youth, based on the knowledge shared by Nunavummiut Elders.”
—Neil Christopher, Executive Director, UNAAQ Cultural Society