More than 21,000 people speak Inuktitut, the 2021 census indicates, and Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun are official languages in Nunavut
YELLOWKNIFE — From legislative chambers to classrooms, and on the radio and TV, Indigenous languages are spoken and heard every day across the North thanks to dedicated elders, teachers, translators and broadcasters.
Palluq-Cloutier took part in efforts to make Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun available on Microsoft Translator and has translated more than 11,000 words into Inuktitut for Facebook. "All of the cultural teaching in the book is part of my grandmother's teaching," said Frankie, who lives in Behchoko, N.W.T.
"She's living proof that you can have a foot in both worlds and still succeed and thrive and you don't have to deny your Indigenous roots to be successful in this world." "The first time hearing a sad story, understanding what's being said, I legit started crying just from this elder explaining it," he said. "It was just really heartwarming and I felt really connected to the stories in our language and it's just really, really beautiful."