The Language of the Land: Digital Inclusion in Nunavut

Vast, remote, and deeply tied to the Arctic landscape, Canada's newest territory spans nearly two million square kilometres and encompasses one-fifth of Canada’s total landmass yet is home to fewer than 40,000 people.

Its communities are dispersed across tundra, mountains, and coastal regions that remain largely inaccessible by road. This geographic isolation makes digital connectivity, public communication, and access to information uniquely vital to daily life.

Connecting citizens to essential services

The majority of its residents are Inuit, whose traditions, language, and relationship with the land define the territory’s identity. Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun languages are thus more than just a means of communication, they are vessels of knowledge, history, and cultural worldview. They coexist alongside English and French, reflecting both Nunavut’s Indigenous heritage and its connection to the broader Canadian federation. The result is a rich, multilingual culture shaped by resilience, collaboration, and respect for the natural world.

Effective communication of information across Nunavut's four official languages—Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English, and French—is paramount. Understanding one another across these languages, regions, and cultures is not just a matter of convenience; it is vital to the well-being and prosperity of Nunavut’s diverse population.

With power comes great responsibility

When tasked with redesigning and rebuilding the Government of Nunavut’s website, gov.nu.ca, our team recognized the importance of supporting this multilingual landscape. This required a sophisticated and thoughtful approach to content management and website architecture.

The Government of Nunavut depends on its website to disseminate information about public services, health and safety guidelines, educational resources, and job opportunities, each aspects that directly impact the lives of its citizens.

Architecture for Multilingual Success

Our approach to the website’s architecture was driven by the need to create a seamless experience for users navigating the site in any of the four official languages. Drupal was selected for its robust multilingual capabilities, which enabled the development team to craft a flexible, scalable solution that could easily accommodate the unique linguistic requirements of Nunavut.

Key features of the architecture included:

• We designed the CMS to handle content in all four languages efficiently, allowing government departments to create, update, and manage content without the risk of discrepancies or loss of information across languages. This ensures that all citizens have access to the same critical information, regardless of their language preference.
• The user interface was designed to be intuitive and accessible, making it easy for users to switch between languages. We paid particular attention to cultural nuances and regional preferences to ensure that the site’s content was relevant and respectful of each language community.
• The architecture was built to maintain consistency in user experience and content presentation, whether users were accessing the site on a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. This was essential in ensuring that all citizens, including those in remote areas with limited internet access, could interact with the site effectively.

Impact and Importance

A significant outcome of this project has been the amplification of job opportunities. As the largest employer in the territory, the government’s ability to communicate job openings and application processes in all four languages has opened doors for many citizens who might otherwise face language barriers. This inclusivity not only benefits individuals but also strengthens the territory’s workforce and economy.

Furthermore, the website has become a critical tool in promoting understanding and unity across Nunavut’s diverse population. By respecting and embracing linguistic and cultural differences, the Government of Nunavut sets an example for how public institutions can foster a sense of community and mutual respect among their citizens.

This project underscores the vital role that thoughtful, inclusive digital design can play in supporting the diverse needs of a population, and how technology can be leveraged to bridge cultural gaps, promote inclusivity, and strengthen communities.