Hockey Night in Canada scores an itiqtitsijut with broadcasts in Inuktitut

Being able to speak Inuktitut on Hockey Night in Canada is like a dream come true for Pujjuut Kusugak. 

"It's just one of those things that you wished and you fantasized about but now it's a real thing that's coming up," he said. 

Kusugak, and a small collection of other passionate speakers, will get the chance to speak their own languages soon on Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) which will broadcast three games in Plains Cree and three games in Inuktitut this NHL season. 

APTN will air the games in Cree on Jan. 18, Feb. 8 and Feb. 22 and the games in Inuktitut on March 8, March 22 and April 12.

Earl Wood, from Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, has previously commentated on HNIC in Cree and will be joined by announcer Clarence Iron and analysts John Chabot and Jason Chamakese. 

Wood says the broadcasts are a way to work toward reclaiming Indigenous languages.

"It allows for a whole different way of infusing the importance of our language into young people with the number one sport in Canada," he said.

"Any platform we can use as a catalyst to create any kind of an infusion towards interest in our language, which is our identity, for the young people I think is an excellent platform."

Kusugak, who's from Rankin Inlet, agrees that the broadcasts are an opportunity to create more interest in the language. 

He will provide colour commentary alongside play-by-play caller David Ningeongan on the Inuktitut broadcasts. The two commentated for the Olympics together but Kusugak says being on HNIC is different. 

The big stage provided by HNIC shows a demand for Inuktitut language programming in a wide variety of topics, he said. 

"David and I, we talk about things like how important our language is and encouraging young people to hopefully take over what we're doing one day, because now it's not just for conversation that we use our language," he said.

"Now it's used for entertainment, art and sportscasting."

That also shows the need for the language to evolve and grow, he said.