Two landmark initiatives show Inuit commitment to preserving language at Avataq’s Uqausivut Illirijavut Conference

An historic memorandum of understanding signing ceremony was held at the end of October between Makivvik and Avataq Cultural Institute, ensuring Avataq will have access to stable long-term funding, allowing it to implement vital language initiatives stemming from decades of cultural research in support of the Inuit language. It includes an amount up to $36 million over the next five years to support language work in the 15 Inuit communities.

A portion of these funds were secured by Makivvik through Heritage Canada under the Indigenous Language Component (ILC) program scheduled to run from 2023-2028. The ILC program provides $14 million in funding over the five-year period with Makivvik planning to commit up to an additional $22 million in funding between 2024 and 2028.
The signing ceremony was held at the beginning of Avataq’s Uqausivut Illirijavut Conference, and included Pita Aatami, President of Makivvik, and William Tagoona, President of Avataq.

“Putting my signature on a document that will turn hundreds of years of language suppression and change course towards revitalizing Inuktitut is a proud moment. I give honour to Makivvik for giving us unprecedented remarkable support. Now our language experts in Nunavik can begin to do their work,” said Avataq President William Tagoona.
With the signing of this MOU, Makivvik shows confidence in Avataq’s five-year plan and reaffirms the institute’s role as the primary interlocutor regarding the preservation, revitalization, promotion, and strengthening of Inuktitut in Nunavik. It also commits both parties to meet at least once a year to discuss priorities with regards to Inuktitut in Nunavik.

“Avataq’s work creating this five-year plan is encouraging and paves the path forward in the preservation of Inuktitut in Nunavik,” said Makivvik President Pita Aatami. “Preserving and strengthening Inuktitut is a major priority for Makivvik and these funds will be the first step in safeguarding our language, a major pillar of our culture and identity.”

The commitment to Inuktitut preservation was further evidenced later in the week, as the conference concluded with more than 50 Inuit leaders signing the Declaration to a Secure Future for Inuktitut in Nunavik, a comprehensive document written to affirm the determination by the Inuit of Nunavik to preserve and protect Inuktitut. The declaration was signed on November 1, first by Avataq President William Tagoona, and then by Zebedee Nungak, Avataq’s Inuktitut language specialist, and a veteran of the promotion of Inuit rights in Nunavik.

“We’ve worked for decades to get to this historic moment. With this Declaration on Inuktitut in Nunavik, we are asserting our rights to preserve and maintain our language, as the original inhabitants of this land where we have lived from time immemorial. We are affirming that our language is in urgent need of protection,” Zebedee Nungak said. “We intend to develop the institutions required to preserve our language by creating an Inuktitut Language Authority for Nunavik, as well as to establish Inuit Heritage Centers in all our communities. Over the past three days, we have reviewed and confirmed the integrity of the report, called Illirijavut – That Which We Treasure, which was published by Avataq in 2012.”

Avataq President William Tagoona reflected on the significance of the moment. “The pressures of the world are laying heavily on our lifestyle and language, and the time is right to declare our language unique in Canada, and to the world. We accomplished that today. We have spoken clearly that nevermore will we tolerate abuse and ridicule upon our God-given language. Today we announce in solidarity, through every word stated in the Declaration, that Inuktitut casts a shining on us all; the Inuit of Nunavik!”