[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
Thank you.
Today, as we talk about indigenous languages, I am going to speak Inuktitut, my language.
We all understand and know that the people who were sent to residential schools have a lot of pain and have a lot of healing to do.
There are 13 communities in Nunavut. Their schools were managed by the federal government, which hired churches and other agencies to manage them. In Chesterfield Inlet, since 1951, it was the Sir Joseph Bernier Federal Day School. It was the last, and the residence itself, Kivalliq Hall, was closed in 1997 as the last residential school in Nunavut.
In Nunavut, there are 13 communities. They tried to do away with our culture and our language by taking us to residential schools from 1951 to 1997. For 46 years they tried to destroy our language and our culture.
There are 42 schools in Nunavut, from preschool to grade 12. The elementary schools teach the English language. We have one French school in Nunavut, but we do not have an Inuktitut school up to grade 12. We do not have an Inuktitut curriculum or courses up to grade 12.
I am asking you, Canada, can the Government of Canada provide for 13 communities to teach the Inuktitut language inside of Nunavut? We feel that you could also teach the language and the culture of the Inuit. For 46 years, they tried to do away with our language and culture. Can you reply, please?