Some say that when a language is no longer spoken, the culture also dies, but Inuit who do not speak the language still feel ‘Inuit’. They have Inuit values and beliefs, and practice and live Inuit customs. It is this that Inuuqatigiit is saying; that we have to create, develop and acknowledge in our students a strong identity and to feel proud of their people’s history and traditions. It is possible to talk and live the Inuit culture to some extent in another language, but what will be missed or left out from the Inuit culture? There are various personal answers to this question which you and your community can discuss.
Strong messages of the importance of using and maintaining our language have been voiced by Inuit. Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and Inuvialuktun has to be used in order for them to survive. Language cannot be saved by the school; it has to be spoken in the homes for it to be strong within the community. The school can teach some of it and support it. It is essential for the school to work with the parents, D.E.A. and community to promote the Inuit language.
For those who already speak it and for those who are learning it, how do we maintain, strengthen and develop it so they are using it academically, intelligently and professionally? Through each subject, language is used and learned by the students. When an Inuuqatigiit topic or theme is integrated into all the subjects, language is naturally integrated which provides a more meaningful context for children. It is important to create a language rich environment for students at all levels through play, print, books, oral stories, drama, use, singing, reading and writing.
A strong sense of pride and respect for Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and Inuvialuktun and the different dialects has to be created for all, particularly our students who will eventually become the carriers of the language. The Inuit language has developed and evolved over many years and through vast experiences and knowledge of a people. It is these experiences and knowledge that Inuit want to preserve, use, and in some cases, revitalize through language.
“No matter how good the language program is in the school, it will not save the language. It has to start in the home and the school program can support that.”
“We cannot afford to bury our language with our Elders.” Public Hearing, Aklavik, Learning Tradition and Change
In Qitirmiut the children all speak English, but when I come to the Kivalliq and Qikiqtani regions I hear very small children speaking fluent Inuktitut. My ears perk up when I hear them speak and I wish our children could speak as fluently.. and another concern that I have about language is that some of the words are said in Inuktitut and some in English. This is very disturbing. If they speak Inuktitut they have to speak all Inuktitut. I have seen too much of this mixture being used.4