ITC / Quebec Language Bill 101

Inuit Tapirisat of Canada called upon the federal government to intervene on behalf of the Inuit of Northern Quebec in their dispute with the government of Quebec over provisions of the proposed language legislation, Bill 101

ITC president Michael Amarook wrote to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Warren Allmad, pointing out that the government of Canada has an obligation under the British North America Act to protect the rights of Inuit, no matter where they live in Canada.

Amarook's letter noted that the issue was more than a provincial one. Under the Quebec bill Inuit families moving to Quebec from the NWT and Labrador may not be able to have their children educated in the language of their choice, he also pointed out that many Inuit families in Quebec have close relatives in other parts of the north and that traditionally Inuit moved freely throughout their land “and did so long before whitemen drew artificial lines on the map”.