(YELLOWKNIFE) Thursday, November 7, 2013 – The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories today appointed Ms. Snookie Henrietta Catholique of Yellowknife as the new Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. Her appointment will take effect on December 1, 2013.

 

“I am pleased to welcome Ms. Catholique to this very important and vital role. Ms. Catholique speaks and writes in Denesuline fluently and has had input into the development of the Chipewyan dictionaries that are now part of the NWT school curriculum. She brings much knowledge and experience to this position and I look forward to working with her,” said Speaker Jackie Jacobson. “I would also like to extend my gratitude and thanks to Ms. Sarah Jerome for all of the excellent work that she has done during her tenure as the Languages Commissioner,” added Mr. Jacobson.

 

The Languages Commissioner is a position appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories upon the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly; the appointment is for a term of four years. The Languages Commissioner’s office is located in Yellowknife.

 

The Languages Commissioner is appointed pursuant to the Official Languages Act of the Northwest Territories. It is the duty of the Languages Commissioner to take all actions and measures within the authority of the Official Languages Act with a view to ensuring recognition of the rights, statutes and privileges of each of the Official Languages and to comply with the spirit of the Official Languages Act in the administration of the affairs of government institutions.

 

For more information, contact:

 

Jackie Jacobson, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of the NWT

P: 867-669-2234

F: 867-873-0273

E: jackie_jacobson@gov.nt.ca