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This committee is very beneficial and when we need them, they’re usually busy so we get their assistance when the government is planning and settling down.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister for his response.
The reason why I wanted to ask this question is because you stated that whenever the elders want to be involved with something they should be invited to participate, such as wildlife issues, is a most important thing for the Inuit; hunting; going out on the land.
That’s the most important thing for the Inuit and we want them to be involved in those, especially the Nunavut Government departments that are dealing with polar bear issues.
The Qallunaaq people would say that the bears are in decline but the Inuit people say that they’re growing in numbers, and other things such as belugas are declining, according to the government but the Inuit have to be involved in those studies.
Those are the types of things that the elders deal with, too, because they are recognized as a committee, or as a body. Do the elders groups, or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit committees, are they involved with wildlife issues?
Yes, it’s understandable.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth has been asked if the elders can be involved in those types of things because it is right in the law whereby we have to involve the committee that deals with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The wildlife department has asked us about that already and we want to encourage the department of wildlife to find out from them to see if they need any assistance that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee would be involved. We are just open.
They want to be involved in the legislation, the Wildlife Act and others.
That’s what I can say right now, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, this is good to hear because we would like that committee to be recognized because it is very important for the hunters. The Inuit values have to be respected.
I just wondered if the minister could tell me whether they can have more funding for those projects by the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee to be involved in the government legislation. Is there any money put aside?
Will there be money put aside for those types of projects where you can involve the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee.  Is there more money to be spent on people projects?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Within our department we have some funding set aside that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee could meet three times a year.
That is the money we have set aside. If the other departments want to be involved; if there are going to be some Inuit people that are going to be involved in the work they are doing in their own departments we could do so.
There is only money in my department for them to meet three times a year.
The committee would meet. Perhaps, if we could divide the money up, they could probably meet three times in one year. That is the funding we have for that.
Just a short comment. The government departments have to have the advice of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee. Whenever they go to a community they should involve one of the committee members so the government could be more understood by the public.
I encourage the government departments to involve those committee members and to set aside some funding in their own department to involve those committee members when they go to the communities.
We are on page F-5 and F-6.
Under page six, when the minister was talking, I would like to give him some support.
I think it was last year that I tried to get some written material on wildlife issues from the communities but I don’t think this is going to happen.
Within your department, Mr. Minister, if somebody starts writing down the information on wildlife and if the project was to go ahead before the elders are all gone, it would be very good to make history for each community, like the wildlife office asks you guys to find out but not just to do oral history but written history on wildlife years ago.
I think there should be written accounts of the hunting methods and things like that because we have mostly non-Inuit wildlife officers in the communities.
The studies today say that everything is in decline and some communities didn’t even have any polar bears at all but now there are polar bears everywhere.
Can the minister tell us whether this project is a good project?
Baseline information, there’s no baseline for the non-Inuit to look at.
The Inuit have always been closer to the wildlife.
I wonder if this type of thing could be started in the community whereby they do wildlife research and have the stories written.
Yes, this is a very good idea and CLEY has been taping Inuit stories or Inuit happenings since 2003.
There’s only a certain amount of money that we have as a department.
We’ve been trying to gather data from the communities so they can put it in the form of a book: all kinds of values of the Inuit, such as survival and hunting skills, and other things because there’s nothing out there right now that’s written that comes from the Inuit; that comes out of the mouth of the Inuit people, the elders. That’s what we’re trying to gather right now; we’re trying to compile them in tape form.
This winter and this summer, if the members can approve the budget, that’s what we want to do. We want to do Resolute Bay, Whale Cove, and Gjoa Haven; we would like to be able to tape them this coming summer because we have to have these types of knowledge and there’s nothing written coming from the Inuit.
We have to have it written down so we have some written form of what the Inuit know.
The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Task Force identified that there should be some information gathered and written down.
In Igloolik, they started in the 1980s; I think they taped almost 600 hours of information.
We have recognized that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit has to be written down but because of lack of funding, we can’t really have that big amount of money and we would like to be able to do that. So whenever we get some extra funding, we would like to start that up.
Yes, I am very proud of the answers you are providing for us because it is very important we have written data from the Inuit because non-Inuit say they have history and they write their history down.
If I was to say, “Who were the first people that went up to the North Pole,” a lot of us would know who they are, from the accounts of the written material that was produced.
Everybody believes that whoever went up to the North Pole, the first person that went to the North Pole is that person but there is no evidence whatsoever.
He wasn’t there. It is in the history books. There was a Canadian that first went up there, Captain Barclay, 87 degrees up there.
He had a boat with Robert Peary. He came back 18 days later. He did not go up there.
Peary was up at the North Pole for one week and went back to the camp, coming from a far-away country.
I think these are not true.
The Inuit tell the truth about what happened and the government is saying that they are trying to protect that the first ship that went up north was in the 1870s. Charles Frances Hall tried to go up to the North Pole but they got lost.
The history has to be written. There was somebody that went from Cumberland Sound.
These other explorers got lost and the ice crushed their ship. There were 11 non-Inuit and eight Inuit. They came from Davis Strait from north of Grise Fiord and they would hunt along the way, such as polar bear and seal.
They were going through the Davis Strait for about six months.
The Americans were involved and they were starving to death.
The Inuit helped them out. The Canadian people have helped out a whole lot and the Americans have belittled them.
There has to be a written history book. That way we can have Canada recognized a lot more than the Americans.
A lot of people feel that the Inuit people did not do anything to help out but they were the only ones that kept those people alive.
For that reason, I would like to support the minister in getting written history such as Sir John Franklin who was assisted by the people of the Kivalliq region.
I feel this kind of history should be in a written form so the students in the schools can know exactly who were the people that supported those explorers.
They didn’t do it by themselves. If we can have those written history books in schools that would be good.
Can you do that Mr. Minister?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, of course. We will be talking about the grants and contributions later but if anyone would like to put a proposal together, they can apply under grants and contributions before March 31.
If anybody has any oral history or a history of what happened in the past, we would like to get him or her documented because of course we would like to make sure that our history is preserved.
It seems like this is coincidental, and Tagak has been talking about the Qanngualuk’s abduction.
I was looking for Martha Nashook’s story about the abduction of that family, but for the record, I think that this should be documented.
You said that there were approximately 600 hours that have been compiled and entered into the website. Are they on the website so they will be accessible to the public out there?
The Nunavut Research Institute handles this project, and also the Inullarik Society based in Igloolik.
They are the ones who compile all that information, and I know that they are not on the website, but there was a program called Anigiaq that was put on a disc and you can get a copy of that.
I’m not exactly sure what the research council is doing but we are a little bit reluctant to put them on the website because they are not copyrighted. If we should make it available on the website, then there is the possibility of someone taking those documents and copyrighting them.
I think it was just recently that the council was reluctant to put it out because of this possibility.
There are a lot of researchers who go up to Igloolik to look at what has been documented and also taped.
Some of the teachers have taken some of these compilations and used them in the schools.
Because of this possibility, I can’t respond to your question of whether this documentation is on the website.
I know exactly where you are coming from but I would like to ask another question.
If you are reluctant to put it on the website, is it possible for you to get an e-mail address so that the stories and history and so on could be sent to the research council because it would be free that way.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): The Nunavut Research Institute, I think is being run by Arctic College, and I believe they’re the ones that you should ask because they’re the ones who are holding onto those documents and tapes.
I think it would be best if you ask that question to those individuals.
We would like to do that sort of program, too, in our department but we can’t do so due to finances.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Under directorate, in response to Mr. Mapsalak’s comments, you stated that you try and make sure that the government departments are using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and to make sure that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit are implemented into the drafting of the policies.
Just a couple of days ago I heard about income support, and it doesn’t seem that they’re using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
It’s under the Inuit societal values; if at all possible, you have to help your neighbours by way of food, or if I know of a hunter, I can give him possibly an old machine so he can use it in his hunting expeditions.
The problem is there would be a claw back in his income support because that machine is considered a gift.
Inuit give things to anyone who needs it in order to help that person.
In those types of cases, is it possible for your department to talk to the other departments to make sure that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is used in their policies?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we do try and make sure that the departments are informed and I’m not sure how many went out to the communities but we did make recommendations to make changes to the Income Support Program.
If there should be another review, it’s not under our responsibility as CLEY but the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit council is available as advisors.
The government has the Income Support Program because, of course, they pay for the people. If they didn’t, there wouldn’t be such a program.
If an individual has no money coming in, there is money available to assist that individual.
Even if we have those programs available, they can look at it again but I think that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is using it, or the department is already using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and we can discuss it further.
We would like to get other ideas from the individuals out there.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I would also like to make another comment.
If the budget is approved, then the government can start using it following the Financial Administration Act.
Even though we don’t want to give out the money, we also have a legal requirement.
So what I’m thinking is that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is within the government. Is it possible to make it a legal requirement so that Inuit societal values are implemented into their programs and services?
We have seen changes to the place names only at the wish of the community.
Following the Inuit custom all the places have names, for example, Kangirsurjuaq, Kangirsugaapik, we have place names for the communities and their surroundings. When the Europeans came in they gave them English names; Baffin Island, I don’t know who Baffin was.
They started giving names and calling Baffin Island, Baffin Island even though it doesn’t look like a Baffin.
But the Inuit give the communities names from the look of it.
Is it possible for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth put Inuktitut place names and the Peary Caribou.
They don’t look like Peary but they’re called Peary Caribou.
So I would like to reinstate the Inuit traditional place names.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, I totally agree with you.
We set up a committee in January 2005 to do traditional place names.
The Chairperson of this committee is Miriam Aglukark. Amie Kipsigak was involved also.
They have had meetings. We also have to include Inuit Heritage Trust.
We work with them and just recently we signed a document where we have compiled over 20 place names around the Pond Inlet area.
After that meeting we met with them around Clyde River.
The Inuit Heritage Trust again compiled a list of traditional Inuk place names.
For those who would like English names I think there were two that were denied.
So we’re doing exactly that to date.
We’re on Directorate F-5 and F-6.
Operations and Maintenance. $3,350,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Turn to page F-7 and F-8. Official Languages.
We want our language to be an official language.
I was told that within a particular office they didn’t want the Inuktitut language to be used.
Will you tell your employees not to say those things?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Very much so.
I can’t wait until we finish because I want to find out so bad.
That is not acceptable because that is not the direction that the government wants to take.
We’re trying to go the other way where we’re trying to make the Inuktitut language the official working language. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to thank the minister very much.
I even have the name.
I know the employee but you can find out for yourself.
I would prefer that you work with this following your rules.
This is unacceptable or maybe there was no policy or rule in this particular office. Maybe that was why.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We had no idea that this was the case and I am not particularly happy about the incident and I will certainly investigate.
I will write to the managers within our department not to have that kind of attitude, and I will advise the directors within Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and Human Resources.
That’s all I can say at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I appreciate the response of the minister.
I wish to thank him.
We’re on F-7. Official Languages. F-8.
I thank the minister and his officials for coming today. I have a question on page F-7.
In your paragraph description you mention including grants and contribution programs for community based language projects. Can you provide us with some information on the types of projects you funded in 2006-07?
I’ll let my deputy minister respond to that.
Mr. Akeeagok: Thank you.
Mr. Tapardjuk just tabled the 2005-06 grants. That covers all the grants that fell under these two categories.
For some of the grants, I’ll just pick one out of Cambridge Bay: the Revitalization of Inuinnaqtun language and Culture. I don’t know the specific program details but that is one of the projects that we have funded under the Community Based Language Projects.
There are others within that that we do fund on totally different varieties of projects from there.
There is one on Inuit clothes and techniques. There will be a poster, I believe, that shows how to make igloos, and things like that; that is all in Inuktitut.
Also, Inuktitut language recovery and revitalization strategy; things like that that are being worked on by non-government departments that have put in submissions as to how to promote the language a lot more. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister and his official for that answer.
Could the minister provide us with a quick overview of how you will advertise the program, and how organizations would apply to submit their proposal to the department for consideration and approval?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson.
We advertise through Nunatsiaq News, and News North, and through CBC Radio. We advertise those and it is up until March 31 that they can apply.
Maybe we are ahead. We anticipated that the budget will be approved so we have advertised already in anticipation that our budget will be approved so that they can start early in the fiscal year because they have committees for recreation and other things.
We have a review committee where they look at the applications and after March 31 then they review those applications.
I’d like to ask the minister if it has ever come to his attention that the review process and then flowing funds to the successful applicant, if there have ever been issues in terms of delays, hold-ups, anything that could affect the project from starting on time and completing on time.
I know you mentioned that you try to review them at the end of March; you advertise now in anticipation of funding budget being approved so that proponents can get started as early as possible in the next fiscal year.
I am aware of a project in Cambridge Bay, in fact, the deputy minister mentioned it, where they did put in an application in March of last year. It didn’t get approved until July. I don’t think they got their first payment until this month.
They had to cash flow and finance it with bank loans, and credit cards. That doesn’t seem like a very efficient process to me.
I am wondering if you could shed some light on the process and ways to improve it if there’s a bottleneck somewhere to ensure that the money gets flowed to successful proponents.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): The comments you made are very good.
In regard to the official languages the federal government and Nunavut Government have an agreement in place in recognizing…a cooperation agreement it’s called.
We have to apply annually. Last year we got behind because it wasn’t signed.
The federal government wanted to sign an agreement for so many years but we didn’t agree to that.
We felt that they should recognize Inuktitut and not just service...it’s because we couldn’t come to an agreement and that’s why it was delayed.
What my colleague just mentioned, we will definitely give more consideration and it is very important to have good communication.
Hopefully this year we will have a better year that there will be agreements: the cooperation agreement between the federal government and Nunavut, we signed an agreement in regard to the official languages.
The others that are from the Nunavut Government are to help others but somehow the official language is kind of separate and that’s why it was delayed last year.
I thank the minister for that candid answer; the reasons why their funding was delayed.
I know that there’s the one applicant, the one proposal in Cambridge Bay, but there’s probably several across Nunavut.
They’re all obviously worthy projects because your department approved them.
I’m wondering how you work with those proponents during the fiscal year to ensure that their projects didn’t fall off the table and they do continue on to successful completion.
I mentioned the group in Cambridge Bay. Although they had the funding approved through your department, they had to apply for a bank loan and they had to use credit cards to pay for their costs, and there were interest charges and all that.
They finally got their first instalment but there is a second instalment of funding that is supposed to get paid to them. I’m wondering, Mr. Chairman, if the minister could commit to ensuring that they review all the affected groups and organizations that received approval last fiscal year to ensure that they get their funding before the end of the fiscal year.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will have my assistant deputy minister respond.
As the minister explained, sometimes we cannot expend the funds that are in until we get confirmation from the federal government that we will get the funding for the cooperative agreement.
Sometimes what we do is we do review them early enough and then we do provide a letter indicating that their projects were approved, however until we get the cooperative agreement, the funds cannot be expended.
So we do have to put a qualifier on. It is not necessarily the funding that is being approved here. What is being approved here on F-3, the $300, this is strictly within the department so this can flow a lot easier.
It’s just the cooperative agreement it becomes three parties.
So, there are creative ways of doing things within that, and we try and do the best.
For this fiscal year we had some staff changeovers and that probably delayed it, and compounded the problems.
Our wonderful folks that are doing the projects have felt that impact.
But, hopefully it doesn’t take as long as it did for this year. We do evaluate ourselves on a yearly basis, and this is one that we will do where we’ll see what kinds of improvements we can make on that particular file.
We’re on pages F-7 and F-8.
Sometimes we don’t even use proper words or proper terminology, even in the House because we don’t have any guidelines.
Like Asuilaak, the Inuktitut dictionary, could he tell where it is at and how complete that project is?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, they have Inuktitut names.
It’s a dictionary with both Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun, and we are working hard to use those languages.
The dictionary is in electronic form on the computer and the employees of the Government of Nunavut use it.
That’s as much as I know but they continually accumulate or correct words into the dictionary.
At this time there are 80,000 terms in the dictionary.
This is continually ongoing, and it’s progressing.
Is it on a website?
For those of us who live in Pond Inlet, if we want to get a term, for example, my sister Joanna Awa, when she was a small child, when we first went to Pond Inlet, my father told her in Pond Inlet that he wanted her to learn the Pond Inlet dialect.
So he asked her; why don’t you bring in a hammer from inside.
But, in Inuktitut hammer means nice rock, so she brought in a nice rock to the house.
He asked her what she was doing with a big rock.
And she told him it was the best looking beautiful rock.
Yes, we have different dialects.
My father was asking for a hammer called Kautaujaq in a different dialect.
With all these different dialects, are they written in the Asuilak dictionary too?