My name is Jeela Palluq-Cloutier. I am also known as Qiliqti and Tuurngaaluk. I was born and raised in Iglulik, Nunavut. From a young age, I have been passionate about my language.

At the age of 14, I left my hometown to complete high school in Iqaluit. This is when I was exposed to the many dialects of Nunavut. My interests and language skills did not go unnoticed. At 19 year old, I started to teach Inuktut in grades 7 to 12.

I went on to obtain my Bachelor of Education from McGill University in 1994, followed by my Master of Education, with thesis, from University of Prince Edward Island in 2014.

For a few years, I taught to elementary students at Joamie School in Iqaluit and Ataguttaaluk School in Iglulik. After moving to Ottawa in 1998, I coordinated Inuit early childhood education programs, and later taught Inuktut, as a first and second language, to post-secondary students at Nunavut Sivuniksavut and Carleton University.

After moving back to Iqaluit, I joined the Pirurvik Center from 2005 to 2011. I localized Windows and Microsoft Office into Inuktut. I also led terminology workshops and played a lead role in developing language training programs and materials for the organization.

I went on to work with Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit, Nunavut’s Inuit Language Authority. First as the Linguist from 2011 to 2014 and later as the Executive Director from 2016 to 2019. During my time there, I led the work on documenting terminology, developing the language assessment program, and producing the Inuktut Spelling Standard guide, Grammar Handbook and Dictionary of Affixes.

In between, I worked with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami as the National Inuit Language Coordinator, from 2014 to 2016, where I led national discussions and research on a common, unified writing system for Inuktut in Canada.

For the last 25 years, I also have been working as a language consultant . My passion is to promote high quality standards of Inuktut, in spelling, grammar and usage.

Over the years, I provided my services to the federal Translation Bureau, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Nunavut Association of Municipalities, Municipal Training Organization, Concilium, Poirier Communications, Health Canada, Corrections Canada, Senate of Canada and many other clients.

In the last few years, I have been specializing in the production of high quality educational and cultural resources for children and adults. Recent clients include Inhabit Education, Taqqut Productions, Pirurvik Centre, Inuit Art Quaterly and the Government of Nunavut.

Aside from my master thesis and papers on the history of our language and writing systems, I also enjoy authoring children books to promote naming practices and family terminology in Inuktut.

I now reside in Ste-Perpétue-de-l’Islet, Québec, where I enjoy my new home and being closer to my grand children.