Inuvialuktun (Inuu-viah-look-doon) is the language of the Inuvialuit people of Northwest Canada. There are three main dialects that the Inuvialuit speak, and they are: Uummarmuit, Siglit, and Kangiryuarmiut/or preferred “Inuinnaqtun”, due to strong ties with the central arctic.
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Inuvialuktun is now an endangered language. It is only spoken by elders of the communities, which is less than 50% of our Inuvialuit population. Inuvialuktun was spoken for thousands of years, but a barrier was put up in the 1900s. Due to the colonization, Inuvialuktun was prohibited. Consequences and penalties were given to the ones who spoke their language when they were under the care of the government in residential schools. English was taught to the students, and rules were enforced to speak English only. You can learn more about Inuvialuit history from this book.
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Revitalizing the language has been difficult, because a lot of it has been forgotten, or has not been practiced for a long-term period, and could not be passed down to the next generation. English is the language spoken by the majority of people in Northern Canada. English is now the first language of Inuvialuit children.
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Resources – There are resources available for Inuvialuit individuals to learn their language. There is a Cultural Resource Centre in Inuvik that hold many forms of learning materials, such as children’s books, dictionaries, grammar books, audio disks and videos. Inuvialuit will now have to put a great amount of effort into reviving their language. It is hard work, but it is not impossible work. Those who are passionate about their language, will put the work in to keep the heart beating. It shows that they care deeply of who they are and where they come from.
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Kangiryaurmiut – Uluhaktok (Holman Island) area.
Siglit – coastal areas, such as Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk, and Sachs Harbour.
Uummarmuit – treeline, inland communities, such as Inuvik and Aklavik.
© Pirurvik Centre
Vanessa Rogers is born and raised in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. She still resides in Inuvik with with her husband Gerard Rogers and two sons Glen and Grayson Rogers along with their big families. Her mother is Angela Kasook and William Allen. Vanessa studies Business Administration at the Aurora College in Inuvik and recently earned her diploma. Vanessa is a skilled Inuvialuit drum dancer and also works part-time teaching students at the East Three Elementary. She also works with the Government of the Northwest Territories during the summer as a Finance Clerk and Records Management.