Inuktut Language Assessments of Nunavut Government Employees - Jeela Palluq-Cloutier

Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit have the power “to develop, review, recommend or administer surveys or tests that evaluate Inuit Language proficiency for purposes including the certification of an individual's educational or employment skill or competency level in the Inuit language.” Currently, although GN staff who speak the Inuit language receive a bilingual bonus, there has been no system in place to assess their level of spoken and written proficiency. The current system will be replaced by Language Incentive Program, developed by IUT, under which Inuktut-speaking GN staff will have their language skills assessed and classed into one of three levels of Inuit language proficiency, each with a corresponding level of remuneration, and be given encouragement to improve their language skills through appropriate training. This presentation will give an overview of the process, progress and the roll out of the tests.