Inuit sign language may get legal status in Nunavut

Nunavut already recognizes four languages: English, French, Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun. Now it is considering legal status for two sign languages, one of them apparently unique to deaf Inuit.

If that happens, the territory wouldbethe first jurisdiction in Canada to recognize an indigenous sign language. It would also have todevelop more services for deaf people.

There are about 155 deaf people in Nunavut.While many of them learned American Sign Language in southern schools, deaf Inuit who don't know ASL tend to communicate with a combination of hand signals, body language and facial expressions that is being called Inuit Sign Language.

A 1999 court case involving a deaf mandrew attention tothe possibility that an indigenous sign language existed in the territory.

Jamie MacDougall, aspecialist in language and perception, was brought in from Montreal to determine if the man could communicate in any known sign language.

After spending time with him in his home community of Baker Lake and viewing videos of deaf people in other communities, MacDougall realized they had many signs in common.

"Watching people communicate, I found that, well,there did seem to be a very powerful language there," said MacDougall, who is a professor atMcGill University in Montreal.

"So that set us on a trend to recognize what I've termed Inuit Sign Language."

At a recent workshop for deaf people and their families, Inuit from opposite ends of the territory found they could communicate with in a common language.

Mary Rose Angushadlak came from Rankin Inlet to interpret for a deaf relative. "I'm really hoping that it will be recognized ... because it's in our language," she said.

New legislation to protect languages is expected to be introduced in Nunavut's legislature early next year.

The department responsible for official languages is putting together a proposal to include both Inuit Sign Language and American Sign Language in that bill. If it passes, it would give the government a mandate todevelop more services for deaf people.