Inuktitut is now available on Facebook.

The translated interface, announced July 8, to help promote the daily usage of Inuktitut among Nunavummiut is a culmination of a five-year-partnership between Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and Meta, better known as Facebook.

SA国际影视传媒淚nuit expect to see and hear Inuktut in all aspects of our lives. Recognizing Inuktitut as an official language on Facebook, equal to English and French, reinforces the legitimacy of our language,SA国际影视传媒� said Aluki Kotierk, president of NTI. SA国际影视传媒淏eing able to access Facebook in our own language is an important and concrete step towards seeing and hearing Inuktut in all aspects of our lives.SA国际影视传媒�

The translation was led by the Pirurvik Centre, an Iqaluit-based learning centre. There were some new concepts created for Facebook with Inuktitut being a poly-synthetic language SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒楩acebook page,SA国际影视传媒� for example, will be known as SA国际影视传媒楩acebook makpigaq.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淧irurvik is honoured to have worked with Meta and NTI to ensure the new words created in Inuktitut reflect the nuances of our language and culture,SA国际影视传媒� said Leena Eric, executive director of the Pirurvik Centre. SA国际影视传媒淭he Facebook interface in Inuktitut will be a daily educational tool for younger generations to learn Inuktitut and a communication tool for Inuktitut-speaking Inuit.SA国际影视传媒�

At an Iqaluit event hosted by Meta to celebrate the occasion, Kotierk said she appreciated the time and effort on MetaSA国际影视传媒檚 part to bring it to their Facebook platform, but added thereSA国际影视传媒檚 more work to do, such as integrating syllabics, which Inuktitut in Nunavut is normally written in.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel excited because I feel like it has demonstrated the possibilities; itSA国际影视传媒檚 not in syllabics but itSA国际影视传媒檚 important celebrating important first steps and it demonstrates the possibilities out there,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e can strive to have in it syllabics, we have strive to have it in different dialects. But (itSA国际影视传媒檚 important) a big social media company, a global one, is willing to spend some time with us and focus on our language is a big deal.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a way to rebuild the pride in our language and our culture and I think this will be a big tool in that area,SA国际影视传媒� Kotierk added.

In the announcement, Meta added that language revitalization is included in the Truth and Reconciliation CommissionSA国际影视传媒檚 Calls to Action in Canada.

SA国际影视传媒淟anguage revitalization as Canadians, we know this is incredibly important,SA国际影视传媒� said Kevin Chan, global policy director at Meta, who was present at the Iqaluit event. He added this is one of MetaSA国际影视传媒檚 ways to move forward with reconciliation.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have a history that is challenging when it comes to these things. Part of it is to reflect and understand our history, another part of it is finding ways to move forward with new ways to help revitalize language.SA国际影视传媒�

Chan also added this is one of MetaSA国际影视传媒檚 first physical events following the lifting of Covid-19 related public health measures.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been a journey SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 just so great to be actually able to see something and start something with other people. To see it through in this time is really fantastic, very rewarding. I feel very grateful for AlukiSA国际影视传媒檚 partnership in order to bring this to life,SA国际影视传媒� said Chan. SA国际影视传媒淭o finally be able to get out in the world and celebrate something as great as this is a great thing and I feel really good about it.SA国际影视传媒�

Facebook remains the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 most used social media network across all three territories. In 2018 Meta launched Inupiaq (Northern Alaska Inuit dialect) language settings, also spoken in parts of the Northwest Territories.

SA国际影视传媒淔acebook is a vital tool for connection and community for Inuit,SA国际影视传媒� said Debbie Reid, Indigenous policy manager at Meta in Canada. SA国际影视传媒淲e recognize that language is integral to the Inuit way of being and identity, and we are honoured to play a role in supporting the efforts of NTI to strengthen and promote the vitality of their language.SA国际影视传媒�

To change FacebookSA国际影视传媒檚 language settings from English to Inuktitut, go to settings on the Facebook profile page, go to SA国际影视传媒榣anguageSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒榬egionSA国际影视传媒� and click on edit Facebook language.