ICC Chair Sara Olsvig’s statement on International Mother Language Day, February 21, 2025
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the International Mother Language Day, let’s be reminded of how our Inuit languages are intrinsic to Inuit knowledge systems, values, worldviews, and perspectives.
Our languages hold power and wisdom, that we must apply in all forms of governance and knowledge production. It is therefore imperative, that we continue to use our languages, and that we recognize the distinct role languages play in power relations.
ICC’s Circumpolar Inuit Protocols for Equitable and Ethical Engagement address the role of languages, as they reiterate that respect for Inuit values, our worldviews, perspectives, languages, and experiences will result in a greater understanding of the significance of Indigenous Knowledge.
Across our homelands and jurisdictions, we continue to see debates on the role and status of our Inuit languages. In Kalaallit Nunaat, our Inuit language is the official language, and yet Kalaallisut is rarely the primary language in higher education, research, knowledge production, or in our administrative governance system, while the dialects of Inughuit and Iivit are even more marginalized.
We see the same pattern across other Inuit regions. Therefore, we must make deliberate efforts, to ensure that the distinct knowledge enshrined in our languages is applied in our teaching, learning, governance systems and knowledge production at large.
This requires a deeper thinking behind the use of languages – if another language is used in developing a policy or strategy, don’t just do a simple translation into Inuit languages but work with the language to ensure that Inuit values, perspectives and worldviews are reflected in terms, concepts, and approaches. And if Inuit languages are used in developing these documents and policies, make sure that Inuit values, worldviews, perspectives, and knowledges are not lost in translation when the documents are translated into other languages.
From ICC we celebrate the increasing use of Inuit languages across our homelands. We look to the future with great hope for future generations of Inuit language speakers, and we wish to reiterate our shared responsibility of deliberately using our Inuit languages. All Inuit have the right to control their educational systems and institutions, providing education in their own languages.
Speaking our languages is an act of self-determination. Implementing Inuit values, worldviews and knowledge systems is to infuse our self-determination with our Inuit ways of being.
Let us use this day to be reminded of the interrelation between language and power. Our languages are more than words – they are about our values, knowledge, and worldviews.
UNESCO International Mother Language Day events: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/languages-matter-silver-jubilee-celebration-international-mother-language-day
ICC’s Circumpolar Inuit Protocols for Equitable and Ethical Engagement: https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/project/circumpolar-inuit-protocols-for-equitable-and-ethical-engagement/
