Deregulate and Empower Indigenous Language Teachers

Indigenous language revitalization across Arctic Canada can be supported through a change in tax policy at the federal level. Photo: The Gordon Foundation

Through a partnership with the Gordon Foundation, The Arctic Institute is publishing a series of papers on Canadian Arctic policy critiques and solutions written by Jane Glassco Northern Fellows. The Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship Program recognizes the leadership potential of northern Canadians aged 25-35 who are passionate about addressing emerging policy challenges and building a strong North. During the 18-month program, Fellows deepen their understanding of important northern issues, and develop the skills to articulate and advance their ideas and policy research. Fellows publish individual and group policy research papers. For more information, please visit The Gordon Foundation website and follow the Fellowship on Twitter.

Approaches to supporting Indigenous language revitalization in the North at the Federal level is currently inappropriate, as it requires teachers and learners to distort their work and administrative structures to adapt to what governmental regulations perceive to be the most appropriate methodology for language work. This dilutes the capacity of entities completing actual language work. It is necessary to adapt the framework of ways that language revitalization work can be supported for widespread impact, allowing languages to flourish and expand in ways that our leaders envision and suggest. My focus in this analysis is on federal level work, as northern languages are not defined by jurisdictional boundaries, however, Inuit Nunangat in the political boundaries of Canada spans three territories and two provinces, each with varying regulations and support.

Language revitalization is inherently a task that would fall within what Canadian regulations consider to be charitable, matching the charitable classification of “education,” To become a charitable organization in Canada, an entity must subject itself to extensive review and scrutiny by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on initial registration, and then, in continuing to operate as a charity,entities must further increase accountability and reporting on an ongoing basis. This administrative burden is feasible for some larger operations that have administrative staff, however, it is not conducive to the enablement of all language revitalization efforts. I propose that Canadian charitable laws deregulate the charitable re-granting requirements specifying the need for recipients to be registered charities or qualified donees for individuals and organizations working in language revitalization, in order to allow for free resource exchange between the philanthropic sector and entities completing the work.

Killulark Arngna’naaq is an Inuk originally from Qamanit’uaq (Baker Lake) Nunavut, but spent most of her childhood in, and is currently based in Yellowknife, NWT. She completed her BA through Trent University, her Masters of Management and Professional Accounting with the University of Toronto, and attained her CPA, CA designation through the Institute of Chartered Accountancy Ontario. Killulark is currently working for Tides Canada as their Northern Program Specialist.