An Historic Meeting with a Federal Minister of the Crown

Let the record show that today, Wednesday February 4, 2009 I spoke Inuktitut - my mother tongue - with a minister of the Crown. It is the first time in our Inuit history that this was done. It happened during the opening remarks between myself and the Minister of Health Canada, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq.

You can't imagine how great it was to speak so freely, in my own langauge, with Leona. To know that my complete thoughts would be fully understood without having to think in a second language.

We joked a bit together that for the benefit of our respective staff members present, we would have to hold the meeting in English.

We had a very good meeting. It was a good and thorough discussion of some of the pressing inuit health issues, and I knew Minister Aglukkaq understood all the nuances.

The meeting ended in Inuktitut as well.

I didn't want this day to come to an end without marking this important event for the inuit language. Every action is vital when it comes to the preservation of our precious language.