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    Canada Year Book

    2011

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    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.

    Chart 1.2 Inuit parents' language expectations for their children, by region, 2006
    View data source for chart 1.2

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