{"id":12473,"date":"2021-07-21T10:28:52","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T14:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.makivik.org\/?post_type=taqralikonline&p=12473"},"modified":"2021-08-03T10:41:22","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T14:41:22","slug":"robbie-watt-a-passion-for-language","status":"publish","type":"taqralikonline","link":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/article\/robbie-watt-a-passion-for-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Robbie Watt \u2013 A Passion for Language"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Stephen Hendrie<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Monday, June 14, 2021, was a big day for Robbie Watt. He took part in a virtual press conference announcing the brand new Canadian Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (OCIL). Robbie was named as one of the three Directors, in addition to Commissioner, Ronald E. Ignace, and fellow Directors Georgina Liberty, and Joan Greyeyes.

Following comments by Heritage Canada Minister Steven Guilbeault, and Commissioner Ignace, Robbie made his comments in Inuktitut only. \u201cAll languages on this earth are uniquely precious. Let\u2019s mindfully embrace this diversity.\u201d A week later, in an interview, he said he knew Inuktitut was the only language available for translation and he took full advantage of that.

Asked about what it says regarding the health of Inuktitut versus other Indigenous languages Robbie laughed and said, \u201cWe have other needs! We\u2019re not all the same!\u201d He told a story about developing the standardized writing system \u2014 Inuktut Qaliujaaqpait \u2014 Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) was leading, noting it was a difficult process. \u201cITK was just trying to create a way to be able to share information nationally across regions, to be able to have resources that could circulate. So, you have to compromise. Language is very close to our identity.\u201d

He said he sees his role as an OCIL Director to help ITK spread the word about the standardized writing system. \u201cTo promote for them, support them, make sure that the population knows, \u2018Hey, this is what\u2019s being done here.\u2019\u201d

The OCIL was created as part of Canada\u2019s Indigenous Languages Act. The office will operate independently from the Government of Canada and support efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages. It will also promote public awareness of Indigenous languages, and undertake research on the provision of funding of Indigenous languages in Canada. It will also provide dispute resolution services and review complaints.

Robbie\u2019s passion for his new position came through loud and clear. He said it started when he was interviewed for the role in early 2021. \u201cI decided I was going to go big! This is a great opportunity for reconciliation. Let\u2019s create a huge pavilion, a language nest of some sort here in Ottawa. This is an opportunity for us to shine, and showcase our languages. Let people hear our languages and see them. A place where translators and interpreters could retreat. Perhaps it would be a public-private partnership, possibly with universities.\u201d

Based on Robbie\u2019s work history this position fits him like a glove. He was recently the President and Commissioner of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, where he was able to directly strengthen Inuktitut through the curriculum. He is also the former President of the Avataq Cultural Institute where he launched the famous Inuit tisanes, a project he is very proud of as it was also designed to support Inuit culture and language.

Aside from the strength of Inuktitut, there are also disparities across regions. While the language is healthy in Nunavik, and Nunavut, there is work to be done to revitalize the Inuit language in Nunatsiavut and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A screen shot from the virtual press conference announcing the brand new Canadian Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


\u201cI think what I need to do is to map out what\u2019s going on,\u201d said Robbie. \u201cWho\u2019s doing what, do a good inventory, and from there, how else can we help? What way can we ensure you reach your goals and objectives?\u201d

The OCIL will have a healthy budget to achieve its objectives. It receives two streams of funding \u2013 up to $6.6 million per year for its operations, and up to $30 million per year to support Indigenous communities, organizations and governments for research, innovation and the use of new technologies. In the current fiscal year, until the end of March 30, 2022, the OCIL will receive $5.5 million for operations, and $15 million for supporting Indigenous communities.

In the Nunavik region, for example Robbie said it has been aching for a language authority for years. \u201cNow how do we do this,\u201d he said. \u201cHow do we approach this?\u201d He has met with the President of Quebec\u2019s Office de la Langue fran\u00e7aise in the past, and said one of the issues is money. \u201cThe Office de la langue fran\u00e7aise doesn\u2019t have a lot of money, but it has the support of the Quebec government.\u201d

The members of the OCIL represent the Indigenous community across Canada. Commissioner Ronald E. Ignace is a member of the Secwepemc Nation in British Columbia. Director Georgina Liberty has devoted her life to preserving, protecting and cherishing her M\u00e9tis identity and spirit. Joan Greyeyes is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation within Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatchewan.

\u201cWe celebrate this day where we breathe new life into all of our Indigenous languages for the future,\u201d said Commissioner Ignace. \u201cOur languages will no longer stand in the shadow of other languages here in our land. Let us always honour our Indigenous languages.\u201d

Robbie said the press conference on June 14 is the first time they connected. \u201cI lived in Winnipeg for four years and I believe that Georgina and I have crossed paths before. We haven\u2019t met face to face yet. We are only starting on July 12. I know that Ron has been quite involved in language and culture. All I know is that I\u2019m very passionate. Whatever it takes. It\u2019s going to be a fun ride!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Stephen Hendrie Monday, June 14, 2021, was a big day for Robbie Watt. He took part in a virtual press conference announcing the brand new [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12474,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"taqralik-issues":[141,123],"class_list":["post-12473","taqralikonline","type-taqralikonline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","taqralik-issues-2021-spring","taqralik-issues-spring"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taqralikonline\/12473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taqralikonline"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/taqralikonline"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taqralikonline\/12473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12480,"href":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taqralikonline\/12473\/revisions\/12480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"taqralik-issues","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.makivvik.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taqralik-issues?post=12473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}