(March 9, 2017 – Iqaluit, Nunavut)Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) President Aluki Kotierk said today that the newly-tabled Education Act and Inuit Language Protection Act amendments will not solve the current crisis in the education system.

“The proposed amendments are window-dressing at best and reduce the right to Inuktut language of instruction. The proposed changes appear to offer district education authorities (DEAs) a choice of instituting Inuktut language of instruction in schools, but without significantly increasing Inuktut-speaking teachers, DEAs will not be able to offer this choice to students,” said Kotierk. “The Inuit self-determination that is promised in our Nunavut Agreement will only be realized when Inuit children are taught in Inuktut and graduate from high school. “

Since 1996, the Government of Nunavut has been in breach of its obligation to develop and implement an Inuit Employment Plan to increase the numbers of Inuit teachers and school staff to 85 per cent.

Just last week, Kotierk expressed concern that the proposed territorial budget did not include new investment to achieve this goal. Substantial financial commitments are needed immediately to implement this obligation.

For further information:

Karen Flaherty
A/Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Tel: (867) 975-4941 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
Cell: (867) 222-2393