A ROYAL reception was held near Llandovery last week by the Prince of Wales to discuss the work of a Canadian national organisation who are inspired by the revitalisation of the Welsh language.

Prince Charles held the round table discussion with members of The Language Committee of Canada’s national organisation of the Inuit, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) to discuss their work to standardise the language of Inuktitut and to learn from the Welsh example of language revitalisation. 

Each of the 17 committee members and staff met Prince Charles, who is President of Prince’s Charities Canada, at his Myddfai home last Friday.

Prince’s Charities Canada supports and develops initiatives focused on The Prince of Wales’s own core interests which include education and young people, responsible business, the built environment and global sustainability.

The committee is responsible for a historic process to create one standard written form of the Inuit language Inuktitut and hope to learn from the Welsh example of language revitalisation.

President of the National Inuit Youth Council, Maatalii Aneraq-Okalik, said: “We have had an excellent opportunity to visit professional and public institutions on our trip to Wales.

“I am impressed with the legislation which has been created to acknowledge the Welsh language.

“I am here with the most urgency and without the language we are lost. We are proud of who we are.”

Director of Operations and Partnership for Prince’s Charities Canada, Matthew Rowe, added: “The group has thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Wales and seeing all the beautiful countryside.

“The group is made up of residents from across Canada’s Arctic region ranging in age from 28 to 75 and will be updating the Prince on their work to standardise the written Inuit language and what they have learned from their Welsh experience.

“We have visited Bangor, Caernarfon, Aberystwyth, Cardiff and also Llwynywermod and have spoken to experts including academics, educators, Government officials and language organisations from across the country.”

HRH Prince Charles was greeted at the meeting with a blessing from committee member Monica Ittusardjuat and a song performed by Rita Novalinga and Robert Watt.

Committee members also created their own traditional outfits especially for the visit which were complemented by His Royal Highness himself.