Nunavut gov't takes fight against Inuktut education lawsuit to Supreme Court of Canada

The government of Nunavut is taking its fight against an Inuktut education lawsuit to the country's top court.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), which represents Inuit in Nunavut, filed a lawsuit against the territorial government in 2021, claiming it has failed to provide education in Inuktut and discriminates against Inuit as a result. 

The lawsuit cited Section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is about equality rights.

The territorial government tried to get that dismissed in both the Nunavut Court and the Nunavut Court of Appeal. 

On Monday, it filed another appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. 

In a news release, NTI calls that a continued attempt to delay the lawsuit without a trial.

"The government of Nunavut was created through the Nunavut Agreement to serve a majority Inuit population. We are baffled by the actions they have taken," NTI president Aluki Kotierk said.

Premier P.J. Akeeagok told CBC his government has been open to working with NTI, and it's unfortunate that they're having to resort to further action in court.

"Nobody wants to be in court … it really does take away the limited resources we all have, whether financial or human resources," he said in an interview. 

But Kotierk takes issue with that statement.

"They continue to use existing resources to delay a trial in court against NTI, Inuit students and families, who simply ask to be treated equally."

When asked, Akeeagok would not comment on how much the court battle is costing the government. 

Still on track to meet mandate

The government of Nunavut passed legislation in 2008 to require Inuktut education for all grades by 2019-2020. 

They missed that deadline, and instead, the 2020 Education Act came into effect.

In the original lawsuit, NTI argues that changed the law to only require the government to offer an Inuit language course, rather than full grade material in Inuktut.

Currently, education in Inuktut is mostly only available up to Grade 4.

The implementation of the course was also pushed back for Grade 4 students to 2026, and as late as 2039 for Grade 12.

Akeeagok said the government is prepared to deliver on that commitment. 

"We've been very clear in terms of fulfilling what we're mandated to do as a government ... and we've worked hard to ensure we have the necessary resources and people to teach," he said.

"It's really the interpretation of how and when we could get to those targets that's at the heart of this."