Young Inuit children and language use
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For most Inuit parents, maintaining an Inuit language is very important. Nationally, 74% of the parents of Inuit children aged five or younger in 2006 thought it very important that their children learn to speak and understand their language. In addition, 71% of parents expected their children would become fluent.
Children are more likely to have an Inuit language as their mother tongue—the first language they learn and still understand—if they live in 1 of the 4 regions that make up the traditional Inuit homeland.
For 60% of Inuit children, an Inuit language is the language spoken to them most often at home. About 59% of Inuit children in Canada hear an Inuit language on a daily basis at the homes of others, while 58% hear one elsewhere in their community every day.
In 2006, about 4,500 or 64% of Inuit children had an Inuit language as their mother tongue, the same percentage as in 1996.
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