Press Release
September 16, 2026 – Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec – Avataq, Nunavik’s Inuit Cultural Institute is very disappointed in the Quebec Governments decision to make the upcoming provincial election only in French. This, despite the fact Inuit have an exemption to Quebec language laws, based on the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) signed in 1975, some Inuit voters will be “voting blind” in the October 5th Quebec election.
“Inuit voters will see ballots in French only,” said William Tagoona, President of the Avataq Cultural Institute. “The Inuktitut language won’t be on the election ballot for Inuit voters, regardless of the fact we have lived here since time immemorial. Furthermore, of the approximately 180,000 Inuit across Alaska, Canada, Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat), and Chukotka, English is the operational second language, not French.”
As of September 16th, there were five people running to become the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the massive Ungava riding, which makes up 53% of the territory of Quebec. It’s one of the largest electoral ridings in the world at over 855-thousand square kilometers – larger than France.
“Unilingual Inuit voters will be disenfranchised,” said Tagoona. “We know that Elections Quebec tried to obtain an exemption from Quebec’s newest language law – Bill 96 passed in May 2022 – but this was refused by Quebec’s language commissioner. Ultimately, it’s the government of Quebec that bears the responsibility for this. It’s the government of Quebec that recognized Inuit as a “Nation” in the National Assembly on March 20, 1985, but when it comes to fundamental issues, such as voting, it’s the government of Quebec that is discriminating against Inuit.
Avataq passed a declaration to protect the Inuit language on November 1st, 2023. The declaration details the perpetual and chronic lack of support from Quebec for the protection of the Inuktitut language. The declaration notes how provisions related to Indigenous languages in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) are woefully neglected by Quebec. “They would get a failing grade,” said William Tagoona. “This episode of providing voting ballots in French only for the election on October 5th is yet another example of the contemporary colonialism we live with in Nunavik.”
-30-
Contact: Stephen Hendrie Communications Advisor (613) 668-1923
The Avataq Cultural Institute provides a strong foundation for the living culture of today’s Inuit. Since its inception in 1980, Avataq has built a solid reputation as the cultural leader for Nunavik Inuit and as an important resource for Inuit culture in Canada and beyond. Our goal is to ensure that Inuit culture and language continue to thrive into the future, so that our descendants can benefit from the rich heritage passed down to us through the wisdom of our ancestors.
