Inuit Study Conference 2019 | Congrès d’Etudes Inuit 2019

Preservation and Revitalization of Inuit Sign Language (ISL): Increasing Indigenous Research and Training Capacity[1]

J. Paige MacDougall, James C. MacDougall, Sandy Kownak, Clayton Ungungai

Canadian Deafness Research and Training Institute, McGill University, Nunavut Deaf Society

[1] This Research is supported by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Government of Nunavut (Department of Culture and Heritage), and the Government of Canada (Canadian Heritage). We would also like to thank all of our community collaborators in Nunavut. 

 

Abstract

  • Abstract

    Inuit Sign Language (ISL) is a long-neglected form of the Inuit language which is used widely by deaf Nunavummiut and their family members, as well as by others in their communities who are hearing. This widespread use of ISL generates a relatively inclusive atmosphere for Inuit deaf persons. We use video to record Inuit deaf life stories and create ISL vocabulary flashcards, posters, games, and illustrated life history booklets. While revitalizing the Inuit Sign Language, our materials provide a source for the reaffirmation of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit Societal Values). In connection with our ISL revitalization projects, we are developing strategies to increase deaf Inuit research and training capacity. In this regard, we recently held an inclusive interactive workshop in the community of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. With an opening Qulliq ceremony by elder Monica Ugjuk, local service providers and deaf Nunavummiut collaborated in generating ideas for building more accessible inclusive communities.

  • La langue des signes inuite (ISL) est une forme de langue inuite qui, longtemps négligée, est largement utilisée par les Nunavummiut sourd(e)s et les membres de leur famille, ainsi que par d’autres membres entendants de leur communauté. Cette utilisation répandue de l’ISL génère une atmosphère relativement inclusive pour les personnes inuites sourdes. Nous enregistrons en vidéos des histoires de vie de personnes inuites sourdes et créons des cartes de vocabulaire, des affiches, des jeux et des livrets illustrés d’histoires de vie en langue des signes inuite. Tout en revitalisant la langue des signes inuite, nos outils fournissent une source de réaffirmation des Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (valeurs sociétales inuites). Dans le cadre de nos projets de revitalisation de langue des signes inuite, nous élaborons des stratégies visant à accroître la capacité de recherche et de formation des personnes inuits sourdes. À cet égard, nous avons récemment tenu un atelier interactif inclusif dans la communauté de Rankin Inlet, au Nunavut. Lors d’une cérémonie d’ouverture de qulliq (lampe inuite) par Monica Ugjuk, les fournisseurs de services locaux et les Nunavummiut sourd(e)s ont collaboré à faire naître des idées pour bâtir des communautés inclusives plus accessibles.

  • inuit uukturausinginnik sapujjaukkanniqsimanasuarniq amma uummatittikannirasuarniq: nunaqaqqaaqsimajunik qaujisarnirmut amma ilinniarusiup iniksaanut angillivallianiq

    jiani piiji maaktuugguu, jaimi kii maaktuugguu, santi qaunnaq, kaliitan angangai kanatamiunun uqayuittuunirmun qaujisarniq amma ilinniarusirnik kamajit, makiuli hilattuqharvigjuaq, uqayuittut nunavummiut kattujjiqatigiingit

    inuit uukturausingit (iu) inuit uqausinginnik nalunaiqsivut ukiunin amisunin qimaksijauvallianinga nunavummiunin uqayuittunin atugaunayaqpakpuq amma iglumiutaqatigiik asingillu nunalingnit tusaajullu. inuit uukturausingit kikutuinarnun aturnausinga ilauqatauniqarman nunalinginni uqajuittunun. Uvagut Nunavut Deaf Societimit (NDS) nunavummi uqayuittut kattujjiqatigiingit takunaraksaliuqtugut takuksautqujigapta uqayuittut inuusinginni amma atuq&uta uqalimaagaksanin, ilinniagaksanin, qitigutiniglu. tamatkua sanasimajavut utirviujungnarmata inuit uukturausinginnin inuit qaujimajatuqanginnik atungaarlugit uqajuittut kattujjiqatigiingit 2006mi atulitqujangit malik&ugit pilirijugut suli qaujisarnirmun taapkua pivaalirutaujak turaanganinga uqajuittunun alranisaaq kangiq&inirmi tamatsuminga miksaagut parnagiaqtulauqpugut maanika ugjuk qullirmik qujanaqpuq katimaniarniptikni ukiqtittilauqpuq uqajuittut amisuit ilauqataulauqput isumaksaqsiuq&utik uqajuittutnun makigiajjutiik saqqiilauqput. una qaujisarniq Social Science amma Humanities Research Council of Canada, nunavunmi kavamangat (ilitqusilirijitkut), ammalu kanatami kavamangat (kanatamiut sivulingit/ilitqusituqangit). nunavunmi nunalipta tamaita piliriqatigiiktut qujanarumanajaqpavut

  • ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᓯᒪᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐆᒻᒪᑎᑦᑎᑲᓐᓂᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᖅ: ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓂᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ

    ᔨᐊᓂ ᐲᔨ ᒫᒃᑑᒡᒎ, ᔭᐃᒥ ᑮ ᒫᒃᑑᒡᒎ, ᓴᓐᑎ ᖃᐅᓐᓇᖅ, ᑲᓖᑕᓐ ᐊᖓᖓᐃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᓄᓐ ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑑᓂᕐᒧᓐ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔨᑦ, ᒪᑭᐅᓕ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᕹᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅ, ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᑲᑦᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ

    ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᓯᖏᑦ (ᐃᐅ) ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕗᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᓐ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᓐ ᕿᒪᒃᓯᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᓐ ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑐᓂᓐ ᐊᑐᒐᐅᓇyᐊᖅᐸᒃᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᐅᑕᖃᑎᒌᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᑐᓵᔪᓪᓗ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᓯᖏᑦ ᑭᑯᑐᐃᓇᕐᓄᓐ ᐊᑐᕐᓇᐅᓯᖓ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᖃᕐᒪᓐ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᓄᓐ. ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑦeᐊf ᔅocᐃeᑎᒥᑦ (ᓐᑦᔅ) ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᑲᑦᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᑕᑯᓇᕋᒃᓴᓕᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑦᖁᔨᒐᑉᑕ ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑕ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓂᓐ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒐᒃᓴᓂᓐ, ᕿᑎᒍᑎᓂᒡᓗ. ᑕᒪᑦᑯᐊ ᓴᓇᓯᒪᔭᕗᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᕕᐅᔪᖕᓇᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᓐ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖔᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᑲᑦᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ 2006ᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᑦᖁᔭᖏᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒍᑦ ᓱᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᓐ ᑖᑉᑯᐊ ᐱᕚᓕᕈᑕᐅᔭᒃ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖓ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᓄᓐ ᐊᓪᕋᓂᓵᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᒪᑦᓱᒥᖓ ᒥᒃᓵᒍᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒋᐊᖅᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᒫᓂᑲ ᐅᒡᔪᒃ ᖁᓪᓕᕐᒥᒃ ᖁᔭᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐊᕐᓂᑉᑎᒃᓂ ᐅᑭᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᑦᓄᓐ ᒪᑭᒋᐊᔾᔪᑏᒃ ᓴᖅᑮᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᐅᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᔅocᐃᐊᓪ ᔅcᐃeᓐce ᐊᒻᒪ ᕷᒪᓂᑎeᔅ ᕐeᔅeᐊᕐcᕻ coᐅᓐcᐃᓪ of cᐊᓇᑕ, ᓄᓇᕗᓐᒥ ᑲᕙᒪᖓᑦ (ᐃᓕᑦᖁᓯᓕᕆᔨᑦᑯᑦ), ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᕙᒪᖓᑦ (ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᖏᑦ/ᐃᓕᑦᖁᓯᑐᖃᖏᑦ). ᓄᓇᕗᓐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᑉᑕ ᑕᒪᐃᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᖁᔭᓇᕈᒪᓇᔭᖅᐸᕗᑦ

    ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᓯᒪᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐆᒻᒪᑎᑦᑎᑲᓐᓂᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᖅ: ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓂᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ ᔨᐊᓂ ᐲᔨ ᒫᒃᑑᒡᒎ, ᔭᐃᒥ ᑮ ᒫᒃᑑᒡᒎ, ᓴᓐᑎ ᖃᐅᓐᓇᖅ, ᑲᓖᑕᓐ ᐊᖓᖓᐃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᓄᓐ ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑑᓂᕐᒧᓐ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔨᑦ, ᒪᑭᐅᓕ ᕵᓚᑦᑐᖅᕹᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅ, ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᑲᑦᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᓯᖏᑦ (ᐃᐅ) ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕗᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᓐ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᓐ ᕿᒪᒃᓯᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᓐ ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑐᓂᓐ ᐊᑐᒐᐅᓇyᐊᖅᐸᒃᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᐅᑕᖃᑎᒌᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᑐᓵᔪᓪᓗ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᓯᖏᑦ ᑭᑯᑐᐃᓇᕐᓄᓐ ᐊᑐᕐᓇᐅᓯᖓ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᖃᕐᒪᓐ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᓄᓐ. ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑦeᐊf ᔅocᐃeᑎᒥᑦ (ᓐᑦᔅ) ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᑲᑦᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᑕᑯᓇᕋᒃᓴᓕᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑦᖁᔨᒐᑉᑕ ᐅᖃyᐅᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑕ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓂᓐ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒐᒃᓴᓂᓐ, ᕿᑎᒍᑎᓂᒡᓗ. ᑕᒪᑦᑯᐊ ᓴᓇᓯᒪᔭᕗᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᕕᐅᔪᖕᓇᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᓐ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖔᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᑲᑦᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ 2006ᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᑦᖁᔭᖏᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒍᑦ ᓱᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᓐ ᑖᑉᑯᐊ ᐱᕚᓕᕈᑕᐅᔭᒃ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖓ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᓄᓐ ᐊᓪᕋᓂᓵᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᒪᑦᓱᒥᖓ ᒥᒃᓵᒍᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒋᐊᖅᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᒫᓂᑲ ᐅᒡᔪᒃ ᖁᓪᓕᕐᒥᒃ ᖁᔭᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐊᕐᓂᑉᑎᒃᓂ ᐅᑭᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᑦᓄᓐ ᒪᑭᒋᐊᔾᔪᑏᒃ ᓴᖅᑮᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ.

    ᐅᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ Social Science ᐊᒻᒪ Humanities Research Council of Canada, ᓄᓇᕗᓐᒥ ᑲᕙᒪᖓᑦ (ᐃᓕᑦᖁᓯᓕᕆᔨᑦᑯᑦ), ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᕙᒪᖓᑦ (ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᖏᑦ/ᐃᓕᑦᖁᓯᑐᖃᖏᑦ). ᓄᓇᕗᓐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᑉᑕ ᑕᒪᐃᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᖁᔭᓇᕈᒪᓇᔭᖅᐸᕗᑦ

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