Nunavut passes sweeping law to put Inuit language on signs and in services (fwd link)

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Nunavut passes sweeping law to put Inuit language on signs and in services

18 hours ago

IQALUIT, Nunavut — In a move expected to transform daily life for everyone in
Nunavut, territorial politicians have voted unanimously to include the Inuit
language on all signs and for all services.

The Inuit Language Protection Act states that the 30,000 residents in the
sprawling northern territory have a right to use their mother tongue and that
action is needed to keep it from dying out.

The new rules governing Inuit languages - including Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun -
come into effect July 1 and will be expanded over the next few years. They will
be enforced by a languages commissioner.

"The Inuit language is at the heart of our culture and identity," Culture
Minister Louis Tapardjuk said in a news release.

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