Inuktitut announcers a win for hockey at the 2022 Olympics

As the 2022 Olympics wind down in Beijing, so does a whirlwind of a time for Pujjuut Kusugak and David Ningeongan of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.

Since the puck first hit the ice for Team Canada on Feb. 3, the Nunavut duo have been announcing all of Team Canada's Olympic hockey games — men's and women's — for CBC's digital platform, in Inuktitut. 

The pair were set up in booths at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. They've sometimes called two games a day, starting as early as 8 a.m. and working as late as 11 p.m., because of the games' schedule and the time difference between Beijing and Toronto. 

For Kusugak, he's doing it for the youth. 

"It really means a lot for us to be able to use Inuktitut to showcase it for all the other people to hear, but also to really encourage other Inuktitut speakers to use our language."

As for Ningeongan, he's doing it for the unilingual elders.

"I did it for them just so they can feel they're part of the community during the events. And so today, to be able to have a national or international audience is a great thing for our people." 

There have been more than 110,000 video views across CBC's digital platforms for Inuktitut language coverage of Beijing 2022, including Team Canada men's and women's hockey games.

"It's been fabulous," said Charlie Attagoyuk Tautuaqjuk. 

He and his family have been watching the games in Inuktitut from their home in Baker Lake, Nunavut. 

"Our culture, our language, it's important to us, and this is an extra step to recognize our language and to listen to and not only have Inuktitut part of the Olympics is nothing short of amazing."

Inuktitut language advocate and hockey fan, Bernadette Dean, has been cheering from Ottawa.  

"Oh, what a gift," she said. "I