For a lot of Indigenous parents, the struggle to preserve language is harder than ever in a Paw Patrol world. Which is not a slight on everyone?s favourite dog squad, but rather just one example of how English culture dominates. For Nancy Mike and Andrew Morrison?the husband and wife duo who are part of the five-member band The Jerry Cans?raising three young daughters in a (mostly) Inuktitut household is both a priority and a challenge. She grew up speaking Inuktitut. He moved to Nunavut from Alberta at age two, but only became fluent in the language when he and Nancy started dating. Here, they talk about why language matters and what it?s like to push back against popular culture.
Was it always your plan to raise your children speaking Inuktitut"
Nancy: Even before I had planned to have kids, I knew that if I did, I?d raise them speaking my language. It?s the language I express myself best in. And of course it is the language of our culture and our history, and the two things are so linked. For my generation and my mom?s generation, we were told that white culture is cooler than our own. I want do my best to make sure my daughters don?t have that experience.
Learning a language for the person you love is a pretty romantic gesture. Nancy?were you impressed"

Nancy: Definitely. I was amazed by Andrew?s commitment, even if I didn?t always show it. I would get frustrated when he would constantly ask me how to say certain words. I would tell him to check his book.
Wh...