About Us

Pirurvik is a centre of excellence for Inuit language, culture and well-being. Founded in the Fall of 2003, and based in Nunavut’s capital, Iqaluit, Pirurvik has developed a reputation for taking on some of the most innovative initiatives in the Territory. Through its team of highly skilled and experienced professionals, Pirurvik offers a range of specialized services, programs and productions grounded in the Inuktitut language and the Inuit way of life.

Pirurvik’s activities are focused on three core concepts: learning what has come before, teaching what is here today and developing the future vitality of Inuit culture and the Inuktitut language.

The following represents some highlights of Pirurvik’s work since 2003...

To learn about Pirurvik's work since 2010 please visit our blog

2009

Pirurvik begins research and development on a new program for Inuit Cultural Knowledge to be named “Ingalangaittukuurvik”. The program emphasizes the teaching and experience of Inuktitut at its highest level of cultural expression. This first phase is supported by the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation.
Pirurvik begins a new program with Tukisiniarvik Maliganik, Iqaluit’s Legal Aid Clinic, to provide Inuktitut language training for lawyers.
Pirurvik delivers “Inuktitut Titirarniq Naanilirinirlu” a course for Inuktitut speakers to improve their Inuktitut literacy skills. The course follows the guidelines of the “ICI standard orthography”
Pirurvik is awarded a standing offer to deliver Inuktitut First and Second language programs to the Government of Nunavut in the Baffin (Qikiqtaaluk) region.
Pirurvik celebrates its 5th year of operation and successfully launches a new book “Inuktitut Essentials: A Phrasebook”. The book is available in French and English and provides an essential missing piece for those interested in learning Inuktitut.
Pirurvik, with the support of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, begins development of a new program named “Reclaiming the Whole Woman”.
Pirurvik is contracted by the Department of Health & Social Services (with the support of Nunavut Tunngavik, Inc) to develop a new Cultural Orientation program for Health professionals working in Nunavut.
Attavik.net is awarded the contract to develop new websites for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut, the Information-Privacy Commissioner and the Integrity Commissioner. The new sites will include enhanced features to manage multiple language and translation workflow.
Pirurvik is contracted by the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth to assist in the development of the Inuktitut language Authority “Taigusiliuqtiit” and with the implementation plan for the Inuit Language Protection Act.
Pirurvik is contracted by the Canadian Wildlife Service to develop an Inuktitut terminology manual and new training programs for the Area Co-Management Committee.

2008

Pirurvik delivers the first “Inuktitut Sanngatigiarvik” program. Meaning “Strengthening” or “Enhancement” this program is designed to improve the language foundations of Inuktitut speakers. This program is supported by the Department of Health and Social Services as well as the City of Iqaluit’s Brighter Futures program.
Pirurvik provides consulting services to the Department of Health & Social Services in the development of a training program “FASD Prevention and Awareness: Communication Approaches for Inuit Men
Pirurvik continues offering Inuktitut Second Language programs and introduces delivers a 3rd level program named “Atangiivik”. This new course brings together the skills gained in the introductory levels and moves the student towards functional fluency.
Pirurvik launches “Tusaalanga v.2.0” with the addition of a French language interface to learning Inuktitut.
Pirurvik completes work on the Inuktitut version of Windows Vista and Office 2007. This new version includes a dramatic improvement in the language quality and consistency.

2007

Pirurvik publishes its first book “Surusiqsiutiit Ingiutiit” as a companion book to the Inuttuqalauaqpuq CD
Attavik.net builds new websites for the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti division of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation as well as for Nunavut Arctic College
Pirurvik hires Myna Ishulutak to be its new full time Inuktitut Second Language instructor.
Pirurvik develops a year-long Inuktitut language pre-school curriculum Iqaluit’s new “Saippaqivik” Inuit preschool.
Pirurvik continues its semester based Inuktitut second language courses – offering 3 month programs starting in September and January.
Pirurvik provides Inuktitut programming for the “La Garderie des Petits Nanooks” preschool in Iqaluit
Pirurvik provides consulting services to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth as part of the development of the Inuit Language Protection Act and Official Languages Act.
Pirurvik renews its work with Microsoft and begins development of the Inuktitut Language Interface Packs for Windows Vista and Office 2007
The Kajjaarvik B&B is refocused to provide course space and accommodations to staff and participants of Pirurvik’s programs.
Pirurvik’s “Tusaalanga.ca” website is awarded the 2007 ouncil of the Federation Literacy Award

2006

Chris Douglas joins Pirurvik and becomes the fourth full time employee
Pirurvik begins the delivery of the Inuktitut Second Language program for Senior Managers
Mary Ekho Wilman joins Pirurvik as a contract Inuktitut teacher for the new program
Pirurvik, in partnership with Web Networks, begins working with Guatemalan NGO “Enlace Quiche” through the support of the Indigenous Peoples Partnership Program of the Canadian International Development Agency.
Jeela Palluq joins Pirurvik as the fifth full time employee
Pirurvik launches version 1.0 of the “tusaalanga.ca” website for learning Inuktitut.
In the fall of 2006, Pirurvik begins its first regularly scheduled Inuktitut second Language courses. The courses are setup in two levels “Pigarvik” for beginners and “Allurvik” for more advanced learners.
Pirurvik completes work on the Inuktitut Language Interface Pack for Windows XP
The first training workshops relating to the new Inuktitut language interface packs are held in Iqaluit.

2005

Attavik.net becomes the web development and hosting platform of choice among Nunavut organizations. New clients include: the Qaujisaqtiit Society, the Department of Community and Government Services (GN), the Department of Economic Development and Transportation and the Information-Privacy Commissioner.
Pirurvik creates a new Inuktitut locale for Windows XP and Windows Vista. Inuktitut syllabic support is ensured in the new Windows operating system.
Pirurvik hires its third full time employee, Eva Aariak.
Pirurvik is approached to develop a one year Inuktitut Second Language program for Government of Nunavut Senior Managers.
Pirurvik launches a new music CD by Leena Evic. Entitled “Inuttaqalauqpuq”, the Inuktitut children’s music CD receives excellent reviews and sells out in its first year.
Pirurvik coordinates and hosts the 2005 Toonik Tyme closing ceremonies.
Pirurvik is contracted by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to host a terminology development workshop for mining terms. Over 180 new terms are established during the week long session.
The Kajjaarvik B&B continues to be a popular location for visitors to Nunavut
Pirurvik completes work on the Inuktitut Language Interface Pack for Office 2003

2004

Pirurvik’s first official program is held in early January 2004. Entitled “Inuit Principles of Leadership and Cross-Cultural Management”, this seminar brings together Inuit in positions of leadership along with three renowned Elders. The seminar is a tremendous success and has an immediate effect on both the participants and Pirurvik’s development.
Pirurvik is contracted by Microsoft Corporation to develop the first Inuktitut Language Interface Pack for Windows XP and Office 2003. The first terminology development workshop is held in the summer and over 2000 new “core” terms are developed. In total, the project consists of over 700,000 words to be translated.
Pirurvik forms a partnership with Web Networks, a non-profit Internet services provider, to create solutions for improving the effectiveness of Inuktitut online. This new partnership is called “Attavik.net”. First clients of Attavik include the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut and the Municipal Training Organization (MTO).

2003

Pirurvik is started with the purchase of House 2462 in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The house is renovated and “Kajjaarvik B&B” begins operation in December 2003. Leena Evic and Gavin Nesbitt are Pirurvik’s first full time employees.