Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) states, in a June 5 news release, Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act, is not a significant improvement over the previous territorial governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 Bill 37.
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Aluki Kotierk, seen here revealing the cost of lost wages to Inuit with the continued lack of implementation of the Nunavut AgreementSA国际影视传媒檚 Article 23, says Bill 25 offers much the same repackaged amendments as the previous governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 Bill 37.
Citing Article 32 of the Nunavut Agreement, the Inuit organization states it should have been a full participant in the design of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 education program, but it only saw whatSA国际影视传媒檚 in the bill for the first time when it was tabled June 4.
SA国际影视传媒淣unavut Inuit have been clear in their expectations for the Education Act. Despite years of constructive contributions by NTI and other Nunavummiut, the Government of Nunavut appears to be offering very much the same repackaged amendments. This is not consistent with the responsibility entrusted to ministers of the legislative assembly by Nunavummiut,SA国际影视传媒� states president Aluki Kotierk.
SA国际影视传媒淭he government must be held accountable for the failure of Bill 25 to address NTISA国际影视传媒檚 most important proposals on behalf of Nunavut Inuit in a meaningful way. On this slow a schedule, a child born today SA国际影视传媒� who will be 20 years old in 2039 SA国际影视传媒� will still not be able to receive Grades 9-12 instruction in Inuktut.SA国际影视传媒�
Read a Q&A with the Minister of Education here:
While NTI does acknowledge SA国际影视传媒渁 couple of improvements,SA国际影视传媒� it says the GN has not has not sufficiently engaged NTI, as representative of Inuit, and as a result proposed revision to the acts do not reflect Inuit goals and objectives.
SA国际影视传媒淔or the past decade and longer, NTI has been seeking a partnership with the GN on education consistent with Article 32 of the Nunavut Agreement. Over a year ago, NTI proposed the following three joint initiatives as a path to Inuktut LOI (language of instruction,SA国际影视传媒� states NTI.
The three initiatives are:
- Short and medium term implementation of targeted Inuit educator training programs.
- A new Department of Education Inuit Employment Plan (IEP), with a realistic timeline for representative Inuit employment in schools and the Department of Education.
- New timelines for Inuktut LOI, based on the IEP timeline for Inuit educator employment.
SA国际影视传媒淣TI continues to call on the GN cabinet and members to show leadership, transparency and commitment to working with NTI on this three-pronged solution to NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 education and language crisis,SA国际影视传媒� states the organization.
Kotierk encourages Nunavut Inuit to speak up.
SA国际影视传媒淣unavut was created by and for Inuit and now is the time to contact your member of the legislative assembly for the future of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 education program,SA国际影视传媒� she stated.
The organization reiterates what it heard at the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 community consultations:
- Nunavut Inuit want to see Inuktut as the main language of instruction in our schools (K-12) and early childhood education
- more focus on teaching Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
- no reduction in District Education Authorities (DEAs) authorities and better support for DEAs
- re-introduction of divisional school boards
- improved processes between DEAs, Department of Education and Regional School Operations
- an end to social promotion
- better inclusive education and student supports
