Voices From Here

Using the circle discussion strategy, open a discussion about Jessie Kangok and Janet Evic’s interview. Teachers are encouraged to create and select questions that are appropriate for their classroom; possible questions include: 1. Does anything require clarification? 2. Two radio clips are featured in the interview. What do they say about Inuktut and what concerns are shared with the radio hosts? 3. What are some of the factors Jessie Kangok mentions that contribute to Inuit migration to Southern provinces? 4. What does the interview highlight about using available media to advocate for services? 5. What do the radio hosts share about the potential of music for language learning? Why do you think it is an effective strategy? 6. How does the radio show allow the Inuit diaspora to stay connected to home? 7. What else in the interview stood out to you? PART II: CIRCLE DISCUSSION ACTIVITY 7 JESSIE KANGOK & JANET EVIC INTERVIEW PART I: WATCH THE INTERVIEW As a class, watch Jessie Kangok and Janet Evic’s interview about Uqallagvik. Ask your class to pay close attention to what they share about Inuit migration to Southern communities and how it affects language. In this interview, Jessie Kangok and Janet Evic talk about working on Uqallagvik, the first Inuktitut and English radio program in Ottawa by Inuit for Inuit. They touch on Inuit migration to Southern cities, working with non-Inuit service providers, and promoting Inuktitut at home and in the city. Inuktut is the inclusive name for all Inuit dialects used in Nunavut , including Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. In 2008, the Nunavut Legislative Assembly passed the Inuit Language Protection Act. The 2016 Census reported that more than 42,000 people in Canada speak Inuit languages. INUKTUT UQALLAGVIK STUDIO 18