Ideas
How Iqaluit's learning institute gave a generation of Inuit adults a path back to Inuktut
Mar 24, 2025
Guests Lina Ivek, founder of the Pivruk Centre in Iqaluit, Alexia Cousins, a student reclaiming her Inuktut language for her daughter, and Jamesy O'Yunga, an Inuk writer learning for cultural connection, dive into the Inuktut revitalization movement. They discuss the critical importance of language in reconnecting with family and heritage. Stories of personal growth highlight the joy and challenges faced by adults learning Inuktut, emphasizing how this journey fosters cultural identity and emotional healing in the Inuit community.
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Quick takeaways
- The Pivruk Centre provides a supportive language immersion experience for Inuit adults, fostering deep cultural connections through the learning of Inuktut.
- Language loss among Inuit communities is addressed by nurturing environments that encourage reclaiming linguistic heritage and overcoming emotional barriers.
Deep dives
The Vision of Language Revitalization
A vivid dream in 1993 led Lina Ivek to imagine a center dedicated to revitalizing the Inuktitut language, which was further solidified when she penned a mission statement that articulated her aspiration in the present tense. Her vision came to life more than three decades later with the establishment of Perhovik, an institute in Iqaluit focused on higher learning for the Inuktitut language. The center not only offers advanced studies in Inuktitut but also serves as a beacon for Inuit individuals disconnected from their language due to systemic challenges. Through her unwavering belief and the proactive measures taken within the center, Lina exemplifies a commitment to language preservation and cultural identity.
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