EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
My second question is with respect to terminology in Nunavut. There are a lot of terms and they vary by region.
Do they select which terms will be chosen, as the best word to represent specific items throughout Nunavut or will the terms already in use continue?
The reason I wanted to raise the question is because I want to know how they choose a term and who they submit their report to.
I would like to ask Mr. Awa to elaborate on that.
With respect to his first question regarding terminology committee developments to date, they have dealt with a whole number of issues, but a lot of their work hasn’t really surfaced.
I can use an example.
For over a year, they have been working and collaborating with the interpreter/translators in the health field to develop terminology specific to the health field or if you have to talk about organs or parts of the body, for example, where you have to translate the terms used by a doctor or nurse which are not yet translated into Inuktitut, and how you would translate them into Inuktitut.
The committee has been working with the Department of Health and Social Services for quite a while to develop terms.
What I can say is that they have defined approximately 793 Inuktitut words, I believe, just for the health field.
This is not just in this region, but in the Kivalliq. They have also been to Winnipeg and I believe they have been to Churchill as well.
They have gone to the places where Inuit go to receive medical services. They continue to work with the people involved in the health profession.
With respect to his question about where the reports are sent, every term they define and decide upon is inputted into a computer database.
If you go into the computer database, you can check any term for its definition.
It’s very interesting to listen to those committees.
It seems that a lot of the work is geared towards meeting government needs, but what I was thinking of was if they could disseminate that information so that everybody in Nunavut would have a common term, whether it is through the schools or other means of obtaining information or even outside of government.
I am hoping that all the work they are doing, which is inputted into the computer, will eventually be available.
Perhaps we can check their website.
When you are listening to radio shows, some of the terms that are deliberated upon are probably not related to what they are talking about.
I’m thinking about how much of a benefit it could provide to the people of Nunavut if the terms that had been defined and agreed to were released outside of the government operations. Will these be made available in the future and, if so, when?
The terminology committee is quite busy with developing terms and they are focusing on one of the priorities identified right now, which is the health profession field.
There is also a project called Asuilaak. All of their work is inputted into the computer and that data is available by computer.
They are also working on a dictionary that’s defining terminology and it’s a living dictionary because you can keep adding new terms into it.
That’s very good to hear and that’s very positive news. I totally support their initiatives.
I imagine they choose from a list of words. Do they discuss the definition or do they have discussions as to which one would be the best fit for a particular term?
That’s what I wanted to understand because we also have to celebrate our differences.
Perhaps the minister can speak to some of these issues I’m talking about.
We can personally go and speak to the committee, but I just wanted to hear more details.
Hon. James Arreak (interpretation): Thank you.
As we have been commenting, they do have to negotiate and discuss the terminology that is in front of them and then choose which term will be approved.
They do discuss the different dialects amongst the various regions quite a bit. For instance, although Pond Inlet and Clyde River are close to each other, their dialects are distinctive. They’re proud of the differences in their dialects.
They’re not trying to come up with a single dialect; they are glad about these dialectal differences and proud of them. However, the work they are doing is defining words that have no Inuktitut equivalent and these require a matching word in Inuktitut. That is their primary focus at this time.
Yes, I am very proud that they’re doing their work and I am very happy he mentioned that even though Clyde River and Pond Inlet are close to each other, they have different dialects.
I told the member while I was there that a lot of the words used in Clyde River are similar to those used in Repulse Bay.
I would like to raise this last question. Are the Taiguusiliuqtiit committee members appointed for life or is there a term earmarked for their appointment?
According to the Inuit Language Protection Act, the terminology committee had to be created.
Based on what we’re envisioning for the future, this committee will continue and I doubt that their workload will diminish.
Branch Summary. Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $4,823,000.
Turn to page F-6.
Ms. Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister and his officials for appearing before the Committee of the Whole.
I will be raising a question about facilities that house artefacts.
The budget for culture and heritage administration was increased by $98,000.
I would like to ask what the increase in funding is for and whether or not the removal of the Nunavut Heritage Centre is part of that.
I believe she’s talking about the Ottawa-based contract that Mr. Rudolph can elaborate upon.
Chairman: Mr. Rudolph.
Mr. Rudolph: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
That’s an increase for the contract with the museum in Ottawa that holds cultural artefacts for Nunavut.
Some time ago, I believe there were discussions with Yellowknife on a contract that was going to be expiring.
Has the contract with them been renewed? I’m not sure of the details.
Can you give us details on what the situation is with the artefacts in Yellowknife?
We have an agreement with the Prince of Whales Centre in Yellowknife and I believe it has to be renewed annually.
This agreement is nearing its end and we are currently in discussions with the centre and negotiating with them to see whether we wish to extend it or not. Thank you.
When does that agreement end?
The agreement ends on March 31, 2012.
Are you expecting that you will come to an agreement? The end of the month is coming up fast and if you don’t expect to have an agreement, will you have to look for a different facility to house the artefacts?
We’ve had an agreement that has lasted for 12 years, going on 13 years, with the Prince of Whales Centre. We are expecting that the agreement will not be extended and that the costs may increase.
However, if we are at a point where we don’t think we will come to an agreement or if we are told that they cannot house our artefacts, we will have to make preparations to look for a new facility to house our artefacts.
Your 2012-13 draft business plan indicates that the budget for your department’s Archaeology Program will be increased in 2012-13.
What new activities will this division be undertaking?
The funds are generally set for the part-time workers who look after that program.
Further in your business plan, there are many priorities listed for 2012-13. One of the priorities is to “Implement an e-book/audio book service.”
As you are making those preparations to input these stories into the computer, will it also cost money to try to convert them into digital files?
Yes, it does cost money, but we don’t anticipate additional expenses.
Chairman (Mr. Tapardjuk) (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Arreak.
Ms. Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the minister for his response.
In your 2011-12 business plan, one of the priorities for 2013-14 would be to “Study options for the development of a new Integrated Library System for Nunavut Public Library Services.” Your 2012-13 draft business plan makes no mention of that new system.
Is the current library system adequate to meet the needs of Nunavummiut?
Here in Nunavut, we have 10 libraries, with Iqaluit being the 11th library.
There have always been concerns about the library funding. However, the libraries are provided operational funding under this fund. This budget that was approved now stands at $492,000 per annum.
These funds are all used up annually and additionally, they are already earmarked for their use by the libraries.
Currently, we have no plans to develop any new libraries here in Nunavut.
That is how it stands at this time under our plans for the year.
We are on page F-7. Prior to recognizing any other member for questions, while we are in the Committee of the Whole, as the Chair, I would like to take a few minutes to recognize a number of individuals with the permission of the members.
Thank you. Before we proceed with further questions, I would like to express my appreciation to the minister and his officials for their patience as I take a few moments to recognize a number of individuals who have joined us in the Visitors’ Gallery.
It is not very often that we recognize individuals during Committee of the Whole proceedings.
Eleven community health representatives and home care workers from across Nunavut are in Iqaluit this week to take part in Nunavut Arctic College’s community wellness and health promotion course.
Our visitors this afternoon are the following, and I apologize ahead of time if I don’t pronounce your names correctly, and forgive us, please:
Arctic Bay Community Health Representative Sandra Naqitarvik;
Clyde River Community Health Representative Igah Sanguya;
Cambridge Bay Community Health Representative Ainsley Klengenburg;
Kugluktuk Home Care Worker Sadie Miyok;
Rankin Inlet Community Health Representative Yvonne Aggark-Tautu;
Taloyoak Community Health Representative Dianne Mannilaq;
Taloyoak Home Care Worker Maryrose Tulurialik;
Taloyoak Home Care Worker Kristy Aklah;
Kugaaruk Community Health Representative Marilyn Kayaksak;
Kugaaruk Home Care Worker Marie-Pia Inutuinaq; and
Kugaaruk Home Care Worker Laetitia Apsaktaun.
Also joining us today are the course instructors Hegeman Taylor.
Excuse me. I am mistaken.
They are Hegeman and Taylor, who are from Yellowknife.
I apologize if I mispronounced your names.
Today is their final day in Iqaluit.
Please join me in welcoming our visitors, who perform important work in our communities for the benefit of our constituents, taking care of the people who are handicapped or who require a support system. Please welcome to our Gallery and on behalf of the people of Nunavut, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
We are on page F-6.
I thank the minister for his patience, as well as his officials.
We will continue with page F-6. Are there any questions?
Ms. Ell, I believe you were done with your questions.
F-6. Culture and Heritage. Total Operations and Maintenance. $4,773,000.
We will now turn to the next page.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $2,168,000.
Go ahead, Jeannie Ugyuk.
I welcome the visitors to the Gallery.
I think that we all noticed that most of them are women and, this being International Women’s Day, I am very thankful to them.
I have a question with respect to elders’ and youth programming funds. I believe funding for elders is contained within this fund.
I believe there is an elders’ hotline or an elders’ abuse helpline that they can call. There is a number listed.
Are there still a lot of elders calling this number? If they do call, what kind of assistance is provided to them?
I would like to get an answer to that.
Chairman (Mr. Enook)(interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk.
Yes, this number is called occasionally, but there is not a whole plethora of calls. We have made that number available, but we do receive one or two calls a month. However, there are also other numbers that they call to get assistance and it’s not necessarily this number that we provide for our elders.
So they have other avenues.
Do you conduct any research as to why elders are not calling? There are some elders who are abused by their relatives or their money or belongings are taken from them.
Yes, we do occasionally get calls on that hotline that we make available. This is still a new number they can call.
I believe they are still clinging to their cultural beliefs that you should never complain about issues and that may be the reason they are not calling.
We haven’t dug into any of the reasons as to why they are not calling.
What we have tried to do is make sure that we advertise the number.
We haven’t really looked into the reasons why people haven’t called, but one thing we do know is many Inuit hate to complain, even if they’re in a bad situation.
Yes, based on our traditional values, many of us have been told not to complain, especially if it is untrue.
However, if we are going to tell the truth, then we have to carefully delineate it and truthfully state our case.
That is what we were advised to do, but if someone will not properly review your complaint, then the complaint seems to just disappear as if it was useless.
Are you ensuring proper and clear guidelines here?
Yes, we are trying to consider all of the issues and we’re trying to advertise that number so that it can be used by elders.
Within your role as MLAs, you make announcements to your constituency.
Perhaps you can include that information when providing public announcements. We have to work together to ensure that all residents are aware of these matters.
You yourselves can assist these elders as well as our department by relaying that toll-free number to them.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): I thank the minister for responding to my questions.
This fall, we were also informed that the pension or retirement age will be raised by the federal government by a couple of years and that is something they are looking at down the road.
Is this something that you are working on in trying to represent our elders?
I know a lot of us don’t always look at particular elders, but it seems like a lot of citizens in Canada assume that Inuit don’t live to an old age based on census data.
Can you elaborate a little bit more on that?
Yes, we are aware that the federal government is looking at increasing the age where people can retire by two years, but we have also heard that people who aren’t able to get a pension will be able to get it shortly.
It is definitely outside of our mandate as this is a federal mandate.
What we could do is probably write letters to the department to find out more details, but we really have no ability to make any changes because this is within the mandate of the federal government.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): In the NWT, I believe they have a seniors’ society.
Have you considered establishing a seniors’ society in Nunavut that could voice elders’ concerns to the government? I’m sure it can provide more support to the elders. Have you ever considered having such a society?
We cannot force anyone or a group to form a society, whether it is in a community or throughout Nunavut.
A society status has to be established by a group. Once they create and establish a society, we can try to provide assistance if they request it.
The other aspect is the funding assistance, which has to be applied for by this society.
However, at this time, the government does have an elders committee comprised of elders that we call the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee. These elders are very important to us in Nunavut.
Are we under Branch Summary, F-7?
We are. Okay.
I wanted to speak to this particular branch summary, Elders and Youth.
Back home in Kugaaruk, whether it’s rain or shine, I have seen home care workers, like Marie-Pia Inutuinaq, walking down the street, sometimes going to a home of an elder.
Within the household, there are youth. While we are reviewing Elders and Youth, I wanted to acknowledge these home care workers that you recognized in the Gallery of this legislature.
At times, in the wintertime, it’s blowing snow and it’s always there.
I did want to indicate and recognize the hard work these people provide for our people.
In this particular forum that we call COW, I don’t have the privilege of recognizing that. So I wanted to recognize them in Nunavut and NWT for their dedication and hard work that they provide for the elders who teach us about the wisdom of the past.
Also, in their homes, they have youth, our future.
I just wanted to indicate and acknowledge that these people have provided the services for the people up here, people who, I again indicate, brought us here and our future generations.
I also thank the minister and his officials for being available while we ask questions.
Minister Arreak may recall that when the standing committee met, I mentioned that some of our elders are abused in Nunavut.
Additionally, under the government agencies or departments, elders don’t have much representation nor are there any strategies for them. Further, no department is willing to accept responsibility for elder abuse.
As we all know, many elders only request assistance when they’re at the end of their rope.
Even though some of them are very concerned or stressed out, they won’t even mention that they have a problem.
My colleague, Ms. Ugyuk, kind of alluded to that situation.
We should create a body or an ombudsman to represent elders specifically. Alternatively, all departments could have a strategy to develop a Nunavut-wide elders’ representative body. I asked the minister if this could be considered and I recall that he committed to looking into this matter.
So I would like to know if this is an initiative that they will move forward with.
Hon. James Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank Mr. Ningeongan because he’s very concerned in protecting elders.
I think that too many elders are taken advantage of and many of us know that.
I do recall the comment he made at the last standing committee meeting.
We will not abandon the idea of how we can provide more assistance for troubled elders and we’re trying to move it forward.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister for that, and we expect that he will be pushing this ahead and I want every department to note that.
I do notice that the government cannot be the only mover of this initiative. People in the communities need to be involved in strategizing to resolve this issue.
It is unfortunate, but all communities experience elderly abuse situations, even though that should not be the case.
Our elders are being placed in distressful situations, abused, and they become fearful of their relatives. We should not be pretending that it does not exist, as it does.
I believe this is a very important issue and I believe that not only the government but also the communities and various organizations within the communities have to band together to try to raise some sort of representative agency.
We’re hearing too many cases of elder abuse and I’m just commenting on that because I want to ensure it’s on the table.
Mr. Minister, did you want to respond to that?
Yes, we can never pretend that this does not occur, as it exists, and anything that is ignored never gets resolved.
I stated previously that there is a committee that elders can submit their complaints to, and this has led to multiple jurisdictions developing elder policies as a result of their senior citizens experiencing elder abuse, exploitation, and targeting.
The issue of elder abuse and strategies to lower the numbers is something all provinces and territories are dealing with. Nunavut is not the only one dealing with this matter.
I want to speak to this issue, in particular, relating to elders and youth, men, as well as women.
In contemplating this issue, I like the fact that some communities record Inuit oral history from their elders. Further, I think we can all agree it is extremely important to record elders’ oral histories in our communities.
Some of our elders are getting quite old and before they lose their ability to recall their history, we should be recording their oral histories and providing a copy to the community.
Many elders underwent life challenges which they overcame in their lives.
If we lose our elders who underwent this extreme change from our ancestors’ traditional lifestyles when Inuit were nomadic, we will lose our connection to our past.
What I can state here is that many of us have lost one or both of our parents due to old age. If our younger generations have access to an elder, they ought to be recording this oral history and to archive these stories.
On a personal note, I once told myself that I would ask my father for information, such as outdoor survival skills or how to survive dangerous situations, as I needed to learn this information.
I was going to ask about these matters. Women should also be asking their older siblings, mothers, or grandmothers about specific skills or experiences.
The problem is, before people ask about this information, before you know it, the person has passed on.
Now all of the answers to the questions you had to either your father or mother are no longer available.
That is why I would ask that the elders’ stories be recorded for posterity.
So if you have any questions to ask, please record the answers to your questions.
Additionally, I thank the department for providing funding assistance to people in this situation and this department is quite busy processing applications, although their budget is only about $2 million in this appropriation we will be voting on.
Personally, I still consider this fund too small.
For example, we talk about Inuit and their need to know their history, their culture, and their language. It seems that more Inuit women are being provided training in sewing as well as relationship resolution, including emotional support. It seems like there are more programs geared towards women.
There are women’s groups as well, but what about the young men who are no longer in school? What do we do to support them?
A lot of young men have emotional problems, but they have no one to turn to.
It seems that we are abandoning them.
Perhaps CLEY could develop a program, even if it is a very small funded program, to assist our youth in our communities.
If a young man has learned both sides of his culture, he can look after his family and will be able to go harvesting.
A man should be able to assist youth, even if it is not just about their machine or even if the man is assisting with fuel.
Some youth don’t know how to hunt anymore.
I was very happy last week, Mr. Chairman, when I attended a sewing group in Rankin Inlet where they were dealing with a lot of sealskins.
I was told that the youngest member’s boyfriend wanted to go hunting.
Once her boyfriend found out that she was really into sealskin, he wanted to go hunting, although he had never gone hunting. (interpretation ends) That touched my heart. (interpretation) When he found out that his girlfriend was interested in sewing, he wanted to start hunting. (interpretation ends) That’s encouraging. (interpretation) When you see that kind of change, it opens up communication between the couples.
Perhaps we should be looking at these types of programs that are geared towards assisting those who we are letting fall between the cracks. You have to work together with both women and men. I’m wondering whether that program is geared towards that type of assistance.
With respect to the oral history recording, this work is still ongoing and our expectations are that it will continue functioning.
Any recording submitted to our department can be sent anywhere; the recording is copied and sent back to the community.
We also make it available to everyone who wants a copy, including our schools and libraries. We have various avenues to try to make those stories available.
Furthermore, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth has gone to the Baffin, Kivalliq, and Kitikmeot and held elders’ meetings in the fall. We are also planning an elders’ meeting for this fall.
In the Kitikmeot, we will be holding a general meeting, as well as the Baffin and Kivalliq regions. We have made preparations for our meetings.