Kuujjuaq, Qc. (September 15, 2015) – Today, the Kativik School Board is excited to announce the launch the campaign ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒃᑳ ᐅᖃᐅᓰᕐᓯᑌᓕᑕ ! (Hey fellow Inuit, let’s not lose our language!).

“The campaign targets Nunavimmiut of all horizons,” says Rita Novalinga, Assistant Director General of the Kativik School Board and spokesperson for this initiative.

With this campaign, the school board hopes to help raise awareness about the importance of speaking one’s language in order to keep it alive. “As a school board, we work with children and youth and we can testify to the importance of Inuit learning and speaking their language prior to attending school. Language is taught at school, but when it starts at home, it provides a solid foundation that facilitates all learning,” Rita Novalinga adds.

Over the upcoming weeks, the school board will be distributing language promotion material to its schools and to all Nunavik Northern Villages offices.

This initiative arises from the Parnasimautik consultations during which Nunavimmiut have consistently expressed concerns related to the importance of ensuring the preservation of the Inuktitut language. It also stems from the Illirijavut report (Avataq, 2012) whose recommendations highlight areas where immediate steps are needed to protect and prevent further erosion of the Inuktitut language.

About us:

The Kativik School Board (KSB) was created in 1975, under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Since 1978, it has been the exclusive provider of academic services to the Nunavik population. Education programs developed by the KSB are offered in schools of the 14 Nunavik communities, in Inuktitut as first language and in French and English as second languages. More information at: www.kativik.qc.ca

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For information, please contact:

Jade Duchesneau Bernier

Public Relations Officer

(514) 482-8220

publicrelations@kativik.qc.ca