During their presentation to researchers, the youth made their point in a unique way: for the first five minutes, they spoke entirely in Inuktitut.
“People in the audience, at first, they look interested, and then they sort of look scared, and then they look confused,” said Elverum. “And I wait for a few minutes and say, ‘Oh, by the way, didn’t I tell you the workshop is going to be all in Inuktitut?’”
“And then they start squirming and get uncomfortable. And then I say, ‘Well, I’m just joking. But I want you to remember this moment. What it feels like to not understand what somebody is talking about.’”
The presentations are an opportunity for Elverum and her group to show the inverse of what often happens when southern researchers come to northern communities. Often, their presentations are entirely in English, causing issues for the community’s unililngual Inuktitut speakers.
Elverum says the experience was eye-opening for many attendees, especially younger researchers.
“Their eyes just get really wide, and it finally hits them … what it’s like when somebody doesn’t understand,” she said.
Nunavut youth turn the tables on southern researchers at ArcticNet conference | CBC News





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