Kuujjuaraapik, Qc. (October 21, 2015) – Meeting in Kuujjuaraapik this week, the Council of Commissioners of the Kativik School Board takes the opportunity to address the local population about the importance of ensuring the acquisition of Inuktitut by future generations of Inuit.

The President of the Kativik School Board, Alicie Nalukturuk, will be speaking to the Kuujjuaraapik Inuit on the local FM radio today at noon and to the Kuujjuaraapik Cree on Thursday (early afternoon). She will discuss the school board’s policy on languages of instruction. She will also introduce a series of leaflets on language development tips for parents and educators.

The leaflets will be distributed to the community this week and are available at the FM radio stations. They are also accessible on the Kativik School Board website. The leaflets were developed by the school board’s department of Complementary Services and were printed in collaboration with the Nunavik Board of Health and Social Services.

This language discussion is part of the campaign ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒃᑳ ᐅᖃᐅᓰᕐᓯᑌᓕᑕ ! (Hey fellow Inuit, let’s not lose our language!), launched by the Kativik School Board on September 15, 2015. The campaign arises from the 2014 Parnasimautik consultation report and the Illirijavut report (Avataq, 2012) that both point out to the urgent need 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

— 30 —

For information, please contact:

Jade Duchesneau Bernier

Public Relations Officer

From Oct. 19 to 23: (819) 929-3331

After Oct. 26: (514) 482-8220

publicrelations@kativik.qc.ca