Access to Services in Inuktut — Federal Engagement Report on What We Heard

This is also available in the following languages:

• Inuktitut Roman Orthography (Qaliujaaqpait)
• Inuktitut Syllabics (Qaniujaaqpait) (Qaniujaa)

On this page

• Federal Engagement Report on What We Heard
• Background
• The Indigenous Languages Act
• Inuit Perspectives on Access to Federal Services in Inuktut
• Progress To Date
• 2024-2025 Federal Engagement on Access to Services in Inuktut in Nunavut
• Working Level Committee on Access to Services in Indigenous Languages
• What We Heard
• The Role of the Translation Bureau
• Types of Services Offered in Indigenous Languages
• Federal Capacity: Barriers and Challenges
• Shared Insights and Best Practices
• Next Steps
• Appendix A: PCH One-on-One Engagement Questionnaire
• Appendix B: Federal Departments and Agencies in Nunavut
• Appendix C: Factsheet: Indigenous Peoples
• Appendix D: CIRNAC Signage in Inuktitut
• Appendix E: Health Canada’s Food Guide Snapshot in Inuktitut
• Appendix F: Health Canada Factsheet on Pediatric Poisoning

Federal Engagement Report on What We Heard

Access to Services in Inuktut — Federal Engagement Report on What We Heard [PDF version - 7 MB]

Background

Indigenous languages are a key element of the identity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada, and play a critical role in how culture and heritage are defined, expressed and preserved. All Indigenous languages spoken in Canada are considered at risk, with categories ranging from “vulnerable” to “critically endangered”.

The Indigenous Languages Act

In June 2019, the Indigenous Languages Act (the Act) received Royal Assent, with the overall purpose to support Indigenous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen their languages.

While the Act does not contain any mandatory requirements for the provision of federal services in Indigenous languages, it sets out a process by which access to services in Indigenous languages can be provided through formal arrangements.

Services can be provided in Indigenous languages if a federal institution “has the capacity to do so and there is sufficient demand for access to those services in that language.” The Act also allows for services to be provided by way of agreements with other levels of governments, Indigenous governments or Indigenous organizations, including in priority areas such as education, health and the administration of justice.

The Act authorizes the creation of regulations governing access to federal services that could be customized in the following ways:

Inuit Perspectives on Access to Federal Services in Inuktut

There is a growing demand for access to federal services in Indigenous languages, especially in Inuit Nunangat (i.e., the collective Inuit regions in Canada which includes Inuvialuit, Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and Nunavut).

This is highlighted in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan, which includes a commitment for Canadian Heritage (PCH) to pursue the co-development of regulations with Inuit Treaty Organizations to support the provision federal services in Inuktut in Inuit Nunangat, beginning with Nunavut.

The Inuit Nunangat Policy (INP) also emphasizes access to federal services in Inuktut as a priority area and identifies the co-development of regulations, agreements and arrangements, as available mechanisms in support of this objective.

Almost 60 percent of Inuit (both inside and outside Inuit Nunangat) report being able to speak an Inuktut language. Inuktut is an inclusive term for all dialects of the Inuit language families including Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, and Inuvialuktun.

Inuktitut is the most spoken language with 39,620 speakers, followed by Inuinnaqtun (735 speakers) and Inuvialuktun (330 speakers).

Progress To Date

Assistant Deputy Minister Steering Committee on Access to Services in Indigenous languages

To guide the advancement of access to federal services in Inuktut, PCH launched an interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Minister Steering Committee on Access to Services in Indigenous languages (the Committee) in 2022, which is now comprised of 21 federal departments and agencies with a service provision mandate.

Since the launch of the Committee, PCH has been meeting regularly with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) to begin planning a phased approach towards greater access to federal services in Inuktut. Initial discussions focused on the design of an inventory to identify existing federal services available in Inuktut in Nunavut and scoping potential pilot projects to expand in this area.

Inventory of Federal Services in Inuktut

The inventory of federal services was launched in September 2022 and circulated to 14 federal departments, the majority of which have a physical presence in Nunavut. The results found that the level of access differs greatly across departments, where service provision could be limited to interpretation at town hall meetings, translation of website information, or in-person service delivery when Inuktut-speaking employees are available.

Following the completion of the inventory, PCH conducted deep dives with certain departments offering planned services in Inuktut to better understand existing practices.

Pilot Projects

The Department then engaged numerous federal departments, as well as Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, to identify pilot projects that could inform the development of agreements and/or regulations. As a result of this work, several pilot projects on access to services in Inuktut have the potential to be launched in 2025-26, though financial constraints have continued to play a role in the advancement of progress for some departments.

2024-2025 Federal Engagement on Access to Services in Inuktut in Nunavut

In 2024-2025, PCH undertook a comprehensive engagement strategy to expand on efforts to better understand the capacity of the federal government to offer services in Inuktut in Nunavut. The purpose of this exercise is to inform the potential development of agreements and/or regulations in support of the Act.

Working Level Committee on Access to Services in Indigenous Languages

In consultation with the Assistant Deputy Minister Steering Committee, PCH launched a Working-Level Committee in Fall 2024, consisting of 19 departments and agencies (Table 1 - Members of the Working-Level Committee). The focus of the committee was to better understand the current activities undertaken by federal departments and agencies to provide services in Inuktut in Nunavut.

Table 1: Members of the Working-Level Committee – text version

Table describing members of the Working-Level Committee. The members are: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Health Canada / Public Health Agency of Canada (HC / PHAC), Indigenous Services (ISC), Infrastructure Canada (IC), Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), Justice Canada (JUS), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Parks Canada (PC), Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), Public Safety Canada (PSC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Translation Bureau (TB), and Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS).

From Sept 2024 to August 2025, PCH chaired two Working Level Committee Meetings and held 19 individual engagement sessions with departments and agencies to identify capacity for providing federal services in Inuktut in Nunavut and opportunities for further expansion in this area (Table 2 – 2024-2025 Engagement Activities).

The engagement sessions focused on the following areas:

• Human resource capacity to provide services in Inuktut (e.g. recruitment and retention);
• Need for specific expertise (e.g. interpretation, IT);
• Available pool of speakers in specific areas; and
• Financial requirements.

Through one-on-one engagement sessions, PCH sought to learn more about the services that federal departments and agencies were providing in Indigenous languages, particularly Inuktut in Nunavut. This included gaining a better understanding of:

• Current activities undertaken by departments to provide services in Indigenous languages. This could include small scale initiatives and pilot projects;
• Future planned activities (if any);
• Current capacity to provide services in Indigenous languages existing within the department and gaps related to departmental capacity and demand for services; and
• Considerations related to barriers, challenges, and lessons learned.

An engagement questionnaire was developed with specific questions to help guide discussions during engagement sessions. See: Appendix A: PCH One-on-One Engagement Questionnaire

What We Heard

Departments and Agencies with a Physical Presence in Nunavut

The number of federal departments and agencies with a physical office in Nunavut varies and is determined by the nature of the work involved. Departments with a service delivery mandate have the greatest number of offices located in Nunavut. Below is a list of some of the federal departments and agencies with physical offices in Nunavut. A detailed map with additional locations can be found in the Appendix. See: Appendix B: Federal Departments and Agencies in Nunavut.

The Role of the Translation Bureau

The Translation Bureau supports federal departments and agencies by offering translation and interpretation services in approximately 59 Indigenous languages. Currently, only unclassified documents can be requested for translation in an Indigenous language (Secret or Protected B translations are not available).

Approximately 44 freelancers are currently registered and available to provide translation services in Inuktut. The Translation Bureau has the capacity to translate the following Inuktut languages:

• Inuinnaqtun (11 freelancers);
• Inuktitut (19 freelancers);
• Inuvialuktun (7 freelancers);
• North Baffin (3 freelancers);
• Nunavik (4 freelancers); and
• South Baffin (2 freelancers).

The Translation Bureau works directly with partners in order to foster relationships and formalize translation contracts with Inuktut freelancers.

Additionally, the Translation Bureau has been holding interpretation workshops to support Inuktut interpretation activities.

In 2023-2024, the Translation Bureau translated over 880,000 words from English to Inuktut and over 3,500 words from French to Inuktut.

Types of Services Offered in Indigenous Languages

Throughout the engagement sessions, departments and agencies shared information on the types of services that were currently being offered in Inuktut. Most services that are being provided can be categorized as either translation of written materials or in-person service provision.

Translation of Materials into Inuktut

Departments and agencies provided a variety of examples of how they translate written materials into Inuktut. Some common materials included the written translations of departmental signage, posters, or website content. Departments are also providing translation services either consistently, on an ad-hoc basis, or a combination of both, depending on the demand for services.

Consistent Translations

According to a CRA respondent, the department is using a phased approach for translations and translates materials related to taxes and benefits in Indigenous languages. This includes both websites and documents designed to help explain tax benefits to Indigenous communities. The CRA has incorporated Indigenous procurement into the Indigenous language translation by using external Indigenous translation services.

The request to translate webpages and documents in Inuktitut was brought forward by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) to help Inuit during tax season. In consultation with ITK and the Government of Nunavut, the CRA selected the North Baffin dialect for Inuktut translations and plans to expand the number of materials that are translated on webpages.

The CRA has translated the Factsheet: Indigenous Peoples on Canada.ca into 17 Indigenous languages, including Inuktitut. See Appendix C: Factsheet: Indigenous Peoples. Recognizing the high percentage of Inuktitut spoken amongst Inuit in Canada, the Agency also translated the Let Us Help You Get Your Benefit (LUHYGYB) guide into Inuktitut (North Baffin) and made the resource available to CRA, Service Canada and Indigenous Services Canada, as well as at the CRA Northern Service Centre in Iqaluit.

The CRA has Outreach Officers that work closely with Indigenous communities and provides support for tax related inquiries. This has proven to be invaluable when getting feedback from Indigenous communities on Indigenous language needs pertaining to tax filing and benefit enquiries.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has translated an increasing amount of public-facing signage and written materials into Indigenous languages in detachments serving Indigenous communities across Canada. In some areas this may include instructions on how to complete a criminal record check or how to contact a lawyer when being detained. The RCMP has also developed materials for its own employees to support the use of common greetings and phrases in Indigenous languages when interacting with the communities they serve.

Service Canada officials routinely translate materials related to services and benefits for Canadians, such as those related to the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Benefits. To reach target audiences, outreach and promotional materials, including social media posts on Facebook are often translated into Indigenous languages.

There is a Northern Promotional Strategy Working Group within Service Canada that provides information to Canadians in Northern Territories through social media (i.e., Facebook). Given that many residents in Nunavut use social media frequently, this has been found to be an effective way to reach residents.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Parks Canada representatives have indicated that offices located in Nunavut have signage translated into Inuktut. For examples from CIRNAC, see Appendix D: CIRNAC Signage in Inuktitut.

CIRNAC also ensures the translation of advertisements for Board Appointments in the following Indigenous languages (Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, & Cree) where the boards are located within and surrounding the Nunavut Settlement Area.

Employees at Health Canada develop products on health awareness for Indigenous groups which are often translated. This includes factsheets on childhood vaccinations, cannabis, and mental health. The Canada Food Guide Snapshot and a factsheet on paediatric poisoning were both translated into several Indigenous languages, including Inuktitut. See: Appendix E: Health Canada’s Food Guide Snapshot in Inuktitut and Appendix F: Health Canada Factsheet on Paediatric Poisoning.

Other materials for vulnerable groups based on geographical locations are also produced and translated into Indigenous languages. For example, when ticks were found in a certain geographical area, Health Canada created promotional materials in the relevant Indigenous language of that area. In addition, Health Canada created a Covid-19 tracing app that provided communities with a method of contact tracing for those who tested positive for Covid-19. An instructional video related to the app was created and translated into Indigenous languages to support affected communities. Indigenous Link is an intermediary service that works with Health Canada to distribute these materials in target communities.

Representatives from Health Canada stated that they often collaborate with Indigenous Services Canada to determine which languages should be used for product translations. A contractor is first selected to supply the translation and then the department will proofread the text for tone by working with stakeholders to review documents. A small fee is sometimes offered as compensation for stakeholders’ time and labour during the process.

Health Canada also integrates Indigenous language voiceovers into video productions which generate additional costs. Creative agencies assist in the development of video materials. Costs incurred are calculated according to the translation of materials and composition.

DFO officials indicated that external communications are often translated into various Indigenous languages. For example, notifications for icebreaking services will be translated into Inuktut for regions in Nunavut where Canadian Coast Guard operations are taking place.

Parks Canada employees ensure that video products related to Nunavut and/or Inuit are always tri-lingually translated to include a version in Inuktitut. An example of this is the video ‘Tracking Glaciers – Climate Crew’ that was released in 2023.

Ad-Hoc Translations

Throughout the engagement sessions, it was noted that while departments offer some translations routinely, others are offered on an ad-hoc basis.

Representatives from CIRNAC translate many documents on an ad-hoc basis, as required. For example, CIRNAC translates meeting materials in Inuktitut to support the NTI Annual General Meeting. This can include presentations or other supporting documents. Translations are either provided by the Translation Bureau or a local translation company such as Innirvik. Companies such as these can provide translation services that are tailored to a particular regional group.

ECCC officials also provide translation services in Inuktitut for a range of materials, including media articles, announcements, and documents that support Human Resources activities. These translations also include content related to programs, policies, and services that support individuals and communities across Inuit Nunangat.

At the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the translation of documents is requested less often than translation through interaction and interpretation. Examples of translation requests related to written materials include subpoena letters that inform victims and witnesses of testimonial procedure and protocol. The Crown Prosecutor’s office will record witness statements and may only translate portions of this material into Inuktitut. These translations are sometimes completed by RCMP staff members but are more often completed by external contractors to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

DFO officials provide job description postings in Indigenous languages when requested by the public. Most requested documents are translated into Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, Inuinnaqtun, and North Baffin dialects.

NRCan employees primarily translate documents and written materials. Translations are completed by the Translation Bureau or third-party contractors.

Interactive Service Provision

Most federal departments and agencies reported that limited in-person services are provided in Inuktut. There are instances, however, where departments provide in-person services in Inuktut in a deliberate and planned manner.

Service Canada representatives provide in-person services at three locations in Nunavut (Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay) in addition to 14 scheduled outreach locations and 22 locations through Community Outreach liaisons. During the engagement sessions, officials shared that there are several employees in the regional office who are fluent in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. These employees are located across the Nunavut Service Management Area. Some additional employees have working knowledge of both languages and have developed skills in translating government information, creating words, and explaining concepts that do not otherwise exist in Inuktut.

Service Canada also provides frontline telephone interpretation services which are available at all locations. Employees call the interpretation service with the client present or on the phone and then have a three-way call with an interpreter translating simultaneously. This service is contracted through CanTalk and is offered in over 20 Indigenous languages (depending on interpreter availability) and includes Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. Contact centre employees are trained to assist rural and remote clients.

CIRNAC employees in Nunavut provide services to the public in Inuktut and offer interpretation on an ad-hoc basis when possible. One CIRNAC employee provided several examples of how employees in the Iqaluit regional office will provide in-person interpretation services for unilingual individuals who visit the office. In addition, employees communicate with the public in a culturally considerate way. For example, employees will often refer to CIRNAC’s historical name in Inuktitut when interacting with community elders. Since the department has had many different names in the past, employees will choose to use the department title that is more meaningful and considerate for community members.

In addition to these interactions, CIRNAC hosts workshops where Inuktut-speaking individuals can receive instruction on how to complete required forms in English such as Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance (EI), Security Clearances, Income Tax etc. Other interpretation services include interview assistance to ensure cultural barriers are minimized in the hiring process. In Inuit culture, describing one’s strengths can sometimes be viewed negatively as a form of bragging. CIRNAC employees will act as support for interviewees by prompting individuals to answer questions while not supplementing their responses in any way.

Respondents from RCMP shared that internal capacity is leveraged where employees are willing to offer interpretation to support interactions between colleagues and the public. Employees perform this work as part of their roles as telecommunications officers who receive 911 calls, at the front desk of detachments, and as police officers responding to calls for service.

CCG employees provide interpretation services on an ad-hoc basis, primarily during meetings with Indigenous communities. While CCG employees do not have capacity to provide these services in-house, individuals from the community are often hired to assist in these cases. In some cases, community Elders will be present for meetings and interpreters will be brought in to translate what is said.

PPSC has direct interactions with the public on a daily basis as prosecutors work directly in all communities in Nunavut to communicate with witnesses, victims, and other justice system participants involved in the court process.

Since 2008, a Crown Witness Coordinator (CWC) program was established (i.e., PM-03 for entry level, PM-04 level for working level, and PM-05 for the supervisor), designated to increase support and services to victims of crime in all three territories. In Nunavut, prosecutor positions are often filled by individuals who come from outside of Nunavut and do not speak Inuktut. As of July 2025, engagement sessions, there are several CWC’s in Iqaluit, and all of them speak Inuktut as their first language and use Inuktut daily in their communications with victims and witnesses of crime. CWCs help prosecutors connect with victims and/or witnesses and provide interpretation services in a culturally appropriate manner. Qualifications include experience working in an office setting and an ability to communicate effectively in English and Inuktitut. Most CWCs are indeterminate employees of the federal government.

In the Nunavut Court of Justice, interpreters are available during all court sessions in order to allow individuals to hear the proceedings in the language of their choice. Audio recordings are provided by the Nunavut Court of Justice legal registry on request.

Through NRCan’s GEM-GeoNorth Program, logistics support and interpretation services are provided to both members of the public, and academic researchers from the public and private sector. Interpretation support is provided to facilitate discussions with community elders and/or stewards within the territory to support individuals in their work. Additional ad-hoc initiatives are being advanced to support Indigenous-focused programming where staff anticipate a growing number Indigenous participants.

Federal Capacity: Barriers and Challenges

Throughout the engagement session discussions, common themes concerning the barriers and challenges emerged that impact departments and agencies’ ability to provide services in Indigenous languages.

Funding and Budget Constraints

Throughout the discussions, most departments and agencies indicated that funding was the greatest barrier to providing additional services in Indigenous languages. This includes funding for translation service contracts and funding to hire employees who speak Inuktut.

The translation of materials into Indigenous languages is also more costly than translation of English or French. As a result, departments face additional funding pressures when trying to enhance services offered in Indigenous languages. A recent example at PCH illustrates this challenge where the translation of a 13-page document costed approximately 40% more to translate into Inuktitut than in French.

The results from the survey conducted by the CRA in 2022, focusing on Indigenous People, indicated that approximately 20-30% of Indigenous respondents would like to receive services in Indigenous languages. However, the lack of funding limits opportunities to advance these efforts.

Similarly, ECCC respondents shared that they would like to support expanding the translation of materials into Indigenous languages to enhance accessibility and inclusivity, however funding considerations present challenges with limited resources within Operations and Maintenance budgets to support this work. Indigenous language translations may not always be prioritized during program planning, as budgeting exercises often focus on English and French.

Service Canada representatives reiterated that funding challenges were a barrier to providing additional services in Indigenous languages as well. Health Canada officials indicated that sometimes promotional campaigns related to health issues would include funding for the translation of communications products. In addition, it was noted that PCO would sometimes have funds set aside for specific health related activities (such as placing ads on websites that are relevant to Indigenous populations).

Parks Canada and ECCC representatives also noted challenges with funding Indigenous translations.

Understanding the Demand for Services

Departments noted significant challenges exist when trying to determine the demand for government services in Indigenous languages.

ECCC representatives indicated that work is being undertaken in this area as the demand for services in Indigenous languages is not necessarily known. In response to the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, ECCC works to determine the demand for services in Indigenous languages by tracking areas within the department that commit to the inclusion and promotion of Indigenous languages through various initiatives and activities to support the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act.

Health Canada respondents noted that the demand for translation services is often difficult to track within the department. Health Canada employees provide resources in Indigenous communities, such as informational materials, but it is often not clear whether the products are reaching target communities effectively and meeting their needs.

Several departments indicated that they face a challenge when trying to determine the correct dialect for Indigenous translations.

Recruitment and Retention

Several departments also noted challenges in hiring Inuktut speaking individuals. Specific recruitment efforts are being undertaken in order better reach target groups during hiring activities.

ECCC has an Inuit Employment Plan (IEP) designed to implement the obligations set out in Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement which requires 85% Inuit representation among employees in Nunavut. The IEP includes measures to increase representation. These include specific recruitment requirements, such as hosting career fairs, to hire and retain Inuit employees.

CCG representatives also noted challenges when trying to hire individuals to perform translation work within the department. While sufficient funding was available, internal federal government policies created limitations preventing CCG from carrying out this staffing action.

Service Canada officials indicated that efforts are being made to meet objectives under Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement. Short and Medium-term targets have been established to meet the obligations under the Agreement, including recruitment and advancement efforts to support Inuit employees. Elder engagement sessions have taken place to support recruitment of Inuit employees.

The Indigenous Recruitment, Retention and Advancement Team (IRRA) is a program with approaches to support Inuit employees. Future activities are planned related to the development and translation of materials including power point presentations. Service Canada currently has approximately 384 power point slides with program information that could be translated into Indigenous languages to better support communities. This material will be updated frequently.

One noted challenge is the validity of materials. As information and guides are often changing, it would be challenging to keep materials up to date in various Indigenous languages.

One issue that was noted by several departments related to challenges with respect to recruitment and retention, is the lack of compensation mechanism available for employees who provide services in Indigenous languages.

Respondents from Parks Canada noted that the absence of a bilingual bonus or incentive impacts the department’s ability to hire individuals who speak Indigenous languages. While Parks Canada is making significant progress towards the recruitment of Inuit individuals for positions within Nunavut, measures to provide compensation for Inuktut speaking employees could further support these efforts. Parks Canada is the second largest federal employer of Inuit in Nunavut, after the RCMP.

PPSC representatives indicated challenges related to recruitment and retention of CWCs, and attributes some of these challenges to the specific work that PPSC conducts, involving sensitive and often distressing subject matter that leads to high levels of vicarious trauma and employee turnover. While mental health supports are made available to employees, challenges related to retention and recruitment continue to exist.

Further, a CWC can travel up to 20-22 weeks a year for court purposes alone. CWCs have a high pressure and high-volume workload, combined with the additional stress of frequent travel on personal lives and circumstances.

Crown housing is provided alongside Isolated Post Allowance (IPA) and Vacation Travel Assistance (VTA). PPSC also noted the lack of a bilingual bonus or financial recognition as a challenge in recruitment efforts, and the limitations of the classification process within the federal government compared to positions in other entities such as the Government of Nunavut.

The RCMP has developed Indigenous Career Presentations which are representative of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people through both imaging and text. These presentations are translated into the language, and dialect, of the community who is hosting the event and contain information and supports relevant to Indigenous employees.

Translation Processes and Timelines

During engagement sessions, federal capacity issues related to translation processes and timelines were noted by departments and agencies seeking to increase the translation of materials into Indigenous languages.

Many federal departments noted that the time required to obtain translation services for documents in Indigenous languages was often much longer than for document translations in English and/or French. Timeline considerations and the possible delays as a result of processing times could result in challenges in meeting established deadlines for products and materials.

DFO representatives indicated that the requirement to have materials translated sometimes put additional pressure on employees who are Indigenous language speakers who can assist with translations. Sometimes translations are required in quickly, and the Translation Bureau/outside contractors cannot accommodate the requested timelines. As such, internal employees provide translation services in order to ensure effective communication and program delivery, which falls beyond their official duties.

The variance in Inuit dialects sometimes becomes a barrier, particularly for submissions that must undergo numerous review and approval processes. Since dialect-specific translation through the Translation Bureau is not always available, NRCan employees may reach out to third-party contractors.

Accuracy of Translations

The accuracy of translations in Indigenous languages was also raised as a concern throughout engagement sessions.

Health Canada employees noted challenges in understanding whether translations were accurate and would meet expectations of Indigenous communities. Determining how best to conduct a quality control review of documents was also noted as a concern.

CCG officials highlighted challenges in translating technical material and ensuring the accuracy of the translation. In some cases, Inuit languages can require a conceptual translation that could be specific to the community where the language is spoken. An example was provided:

“The traditional translation for ‘Canadian Coast Guard’ in Inuktitut is ‘Ships that break ice.’ This is how Inuit communities in the Northern Territories have referred to Coast Guard vessels as they are seen conducting ice breaking activities throughout the year. Outside of these communities, the translation for ‘Canadian Coast Guard’ is often referred to as ‘Beach Guardians.’ It is a term that bears no meaning for Indigenous communities and does not take into consideration the conceptual nature of the word that is being translated. Other challenges with translations are acronyms (example of DFO’s Oceans Protection Plan vs. the Ontario Provincial Police).”

Parks Canada employees experience a similar issue with the translation of terminology between English and Inuktitut as sometimes there are no direct translations. In an effort to mitigate these challenges, Parks Canada employees engaged members of the Indigenous community to translate common language and references used frequently by the department to be shared as a reference guide with other interpreters or translators who are hired for future services.

Parks Canada representatives also noted that sometimes material translated into Inuktitut that is received from the Translation Bureau can be inaccurate. As a result, departmental employees often review materials that are translated.

DFO officials also raised concerns over inaccuracies within translations. Sometimes translators do not understand the specific context of the materials and/or the target audience. This results in misinterpretation. An example was provided:

“DFO sought to have a document translated from English to Inuktitut that included a photo with individuals on it. The translator decided to use a South Baffin dialect for the translation based on an assumption of where the photo was taken. This resulted in a translation that did not meet the needs of the respective Inuit community, who in fact spoke the North Baffin dialect.”

NRCan representatives highlighted challenges related to translations for scientific terminology. As exact translations for scientific terms do not always exist, consideration needs to be made as to whether a new word or term should be developed by an elder to ensure accuracy within the relevant dialect.

Technical and IT Issues

Several departments underscored that technical issues make it difficult to increase translations, particularly for online content. Departments noted that some web content management systems currently being used in website development only support English and French languages.

CRA employees noted that there are technical limitations in translating character-based languages, and they present unique challenges.

To mitigate, the CRA divided its translated Indigenous taxation webpage into paragraphs based on subject matter when requesting updates or changes to translations. This limits the requirement for an entire document to be translated in order to incorporate updates, while minimizing the risks that would be posed if single sentences were requested for updates. This is particularly relevant for the CRA given that rules and guidance around tax benefits change often, and materials need to be updated accordingly.

Shared Insights and Best Practices

During engagement sessions, departments shared insights and best practices related to work they are doing to provide services to Canadians in Indigenous languages.

Employee Networks

The RCMP has developed relationships with Indigenous language training service providers to offer language training to employees in key service delivery roles. The training is intended to support positive interactions with Indigenous communities, and enable First Nations, Inuit and Métis employees to reclaim, maintain or strengthen their traditional language. The RCMP currently offers virtual language training options in 8 Indigenous languages including Inuktitut. It is also developing a Mentor Apprentice Program (MAP) to provide an immersive opportunity for employees to enhance their language skills and cultural understanding.

Guidance Documents

Respondents from CRA shared that the agency is developing an internal guidance document that is used to support programs and regions in their efforts to translate materials into Indigenous languages. The guide includes a checklist for how translations can be completed, as well as information about Indigenous languages use in Canada and policies supporting their use.

PCH has developed an internal guidance document with the support of Indigenous partners that outlines an interim approach on which languages could be used when engaging in communication initiatives with Indigenous groups. The guidance document includes a number of considerations, including Indigenous partner perspectives, approaches to help guide which dialect is chosen for the communication, as well as regional factors that should be taken into account.

Employees from CCG shared that the agency has developed standard operating procedures for community notifications that provide guidance on which languages and dialects associated with various Arctic communities and regions can be used for translations. In addition, CCG developed a document with common phrases for the Translation Bureau to be shared with contractors to support consistent terminology is used when materials are translated into Inuktitut

Leveraging Existing Policies to Support Translation Work

CCG employees leverage the INP, the Nunavut Official Languages Act, and the Nunavut Language Protection Act as a means to justify the requirement to translate materials in Indigenous languages. In addition, CCG leverages the concept that individuals have a right to access safety information in a language that they can understand as a rationale for translating materials.

PPSC officials ensure that services to victims of crime in Nunavut are offered pursuant to the Canadian Victim Bill of Rights (CVBR). Prosecutors are also bound by the Model Code of Conduct of the Law Society of Nunavut on an individual level and must ensure that services to the public are provided in the official language of choice of the member of the public, including Inuktut in Nunavut.

AI Technology

The CRA respondents contacted for this report, indicated that they used the Microsoft Inuktitut translation tool, co-developed with the Government of Nunavut, as a test to review the translation of its Indigenous taxation webpage. The CRA continues to monitor the effectiveness of AI translator tools while still relying on the expertise of translators.

Next Steps

Building on the information obtained through engagement sessions, PCH will bring forward recommendations on increasing access to federal services in Indigenous languages, with an initial focus on the use of Inuktut in Nunavut.

Working together with the ADM Steering Committee, the Working-Level Committee, Indigenous partners, and the Government of Nunavut, informal initiatives could be explored (i.e., development of best practices guides, information sharing activities, projects related to AI translation tools, training opportunities etc.).

PCH will also explore potential formal initiatives that could be advanced related to the development of agreements, arrangements, and/or regulations.

Appendix A: PCH One-on-One Engagement Questionnaire

Name of Department: (please list name of Department)

Name of Contact: (please list contact name)

Contact Email Address: (please list contact email address)

Introduction

As mentioned during the first Working Level Committee meeting, our team is undertaking one-on-one engagement sessions with various departments who have showcased proactive efforts to increase their service offer in Indigenous languages. This work will help us determine what capacity exists within federal institutions to provide services in Indigenous languages.

The intent is to examine the capacity requirements of key departments and agencies to provide access to services in Inuktut in Nunavut. This includes various elements:

• Human resource capacity (e.g., recruitment and retention)
• Need for specific expertise (e.g., interpretation, IT)
• Available pool of speakers in specific areas
• Financial requirements

Through one-on-one engagement sessions, we hope to learn:

• Current activities undertaken by departments to provide services in Indigenous languages. This could include small scale initiatives and pilot projects.
• Future activities (if any) planned.
• Current capacity to provide services in Indigenous languages existing within the department and gaps related to departmental capacity and demand for services.
• Considerations related to barriers, challenges, and lessons learned.

Services Provided in Indigenous Languages – A Continuum

A continuum of services provided in Inuktut in Nunavut emerged during work completed in 2022-23 in collaboration with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and federal partners.

Continuum of access to services

Using the examples provided above as a guide, please answer the following questions.

Capacity to Provide Services in Indigenous Languages

• What services (if any) does your department/agency currently offer in Indigenous languages? For example, translation of documents, signage with Indigenous languages, communications in Indigenous languages, provision of interpretation services, etc.
• To what extent does your department track internal capacity to provide services in Indigenous languages? For example, funding dedicated to the translation of documents, FTEs dedicated to work related to providing services in Indigenous languages, etc.

Demand for Services in Indigenous Languages

• How is your department tracking (formally or informally) the demand from your Indigenous partners to offer your services in Indigenous languages?
• What are the gaps in terms of what services are currently being provided in Indigenous languages and those that partners would like your department to offer?
• For Departments already offering some services in Indigenous languages - what was the main driver to offer those services in Indigenous languages?

Barriers, Challenges and Lessons Learned

• What are the main barriers faced by your departments when trying to offer services in Indigenous languages? For example, financial pressures, lack of specialized expertise, technological limitations.
• For departments already offering services in Indigenous languages - What are some of your lessons learned when developing and implementing new processes/products/services?

Specific Departmental Questions

• Does your institution have a physical location (or more) in Nunavut?
• Does your department/agency interact directly with individuals in Nunavut? And if so, how?

Comments/Questions – please feel free to provide additional information, questions, or comments below.

Appendix B: Federal Departments and Agencies in Nunavut

Appendix C: Factsheet: Indigenous Peoples

Appendix D: CIRNAC Signage in Inuktitut

Appendix E: Health Canada’s Food Guide Snapshot in Inuktitut

Appendix F: Health Canada Factsheet on Pediatric Poisoning