Be a translator — and make a real difference!
When you work as a translator, you’re a social advocate, a working language preservationist and in no small way, a leader.
As a translator, you can help your community in many different ways. If you can speak and translate into your native language from English or French, your work will directly aid those in your community who need access to information and resources in your native language.
You’ll communicate and record many of the subtleties of your language, documenting the important differences between what is said, and what is meant. As you use, translate and record your language, you’ll make it stronger.
I have been a translator and interpreter for most of my life. Now that I am retired Wintranslation is there to keep me going. I like doing work for Winstranslation because of the challenges. I also like the payment part. They usually pay when I request payment earlier than scheduled… I am very proud of the fact that I can do this. Winstranslation gives that chance.
Anastasia W., Swampy Cree Translator
On any given day, you’ll find wintranslation working on dozens of Indigenous language translation projects for our clients, including provincial and community governments, non-government organizations as well as corporate clients. Whether their focus is health and social services, education, Indigenous law, or the environment, all of our clients respect Indigenous communities they’re interacting with and strive to understand their views, concerns and interests. Which is exactly why they hired wintranslation, and why we continue to seek out Indigenous language translators.
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I am an Inuk translator from Nunavut, and I translate documents to my dialect. I enjoy working with Wintranslation because they provide me with income needed to buy groceries which are very high in Nunavut. I especially enjoy working with Wintranslation staff because they are caring and understanding of our Inuit culture. I am planning to continue working with Wintranslation as long as my services are needed.
Bobby S. Inuktut Translator
ᐅᕙᖓ ᐃᓄᕗᖓ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᑉᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᐅᑉᓗᖓ, ᑐᑭᓕᐅᕆᕙᒃᐳᖓ ᑎᑎᖃᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒻᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᖓ. ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᕋ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᑉᑯᓂᖓ wintranslation-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᒐᐅᕙᒃᑲᒻᒥ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᑎᒃᓴᒻᒥᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓂ ᐊᑭᑐᑎᐊᒥᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᓂᕿᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᒋᑦ. ᑕᑉᑯᐊᓗ ᑐᑭᓯᐊᑎᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᖓᓐᓂᒃ. ᐅᑭᐅᓐᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓱᐊᖅᐳᖓ ᓱᓕ ᑕᑉᑯᓄᖓ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᕆᐅᓗᖓ ᐊᑐᒐᐅᓱᐊᕐᓂᖓ ᒪᓕᒡᓗᒍ.
Bobby S. Inuktut Translator
How do I start working as a freelance translator for wintranslation?
Just fill out the form and we’ll walk you through the onboarding process. We understand that being an Indigenous translator is a calling, so our job is to make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way.
How and when will I be paid?
We usually pay our freelance translators for all completed projects via direct deposit on the 1st and 15th day of each month. However, we can expedite the payment process on request.
Do I need to start as soon as I receive the file?
No – we usually send you the file for you to have a look, and to make sure you understand the text and are comfortable translating it within the given deadline. If you accept the job offer – let us know and start translating the text after you get a written confirmation or a Purchase Order. If you are not sure if the project is confirmed, just give us a call or send us an email and we’ll get back to you right away.
What does a translation project look like? What needs to be done?
Indigenous translation projects are typically text-based documents in Microsoft Word, Excel or other editing applications.
You will need to have a personal computer (or a computer that you have a secure access to) with an internet connection and your native language fonts installed on the computer. Your task will be to translate the document into (and, less often, from) your native language, preserving the original document layout.
On occasion, we have jobs involving audio/video files to be translated or transcribed (what you hear will need to be written down). There are specific tools that will need to be installed on your computer and used for those types of projects.
In any case, we will be there to help you master the tools you need and you will be able to complete your work from the comfort of your home and on a schedule that suits you.
What do I need to send in once I've completed my job?
We will expect the files you worked on to be sent to the project manager who assigned you the project. If you have any questions about how to save your work or where to find the files for delivery, talk to your project manager and we will help you find the answer.
We’ll need to get an invoice from you, too. Without the invoice, we cannot make a payment. An invoice template will be provided in your welcome kit along with instructions on how to use it.
Am I obligated to work on any projects?
No, you would not be obligated to work on any new projects. One of our project managers will contact you with each new job offer and you will be able to decide whether to accept or decline it. We understand that as a freelancer your schedule may not always allow for a new project.
What will I be translating about? What is the subject?
We’ve translated texts of all shapes and sizes including public notices, education materials for children and adults, websites, and legal documents. Whether the subject is health and social services, education, Indigenous law, or the environment, we are committed to working with clients that share a respect for the Indigenous communities they’re interacting with and strive to understand their views, concerns, and interests.
How much time will I have to complete each job? What if I won't be able to complete my translation on time?
The time you will have for each translation depends on the subject matter and the length of the text. Before the beginning of each job, our project managers will allow you to take a look at the actual document and, if needed, help you decide whether you will be able to meet the job deadline. If the deadline is approaching and you cannot complete the project on time, please contact your Project Manager for this job and explain to them the situation. The Project Manager will decide whether to reassign this project to someone else, extend the deadline, or ask another translator for help.
Am I technically an employee? Can I still work on other jobs? How much work will I get from you?
As a freelance translator we consider you a provider of a valuable resource, but you are not an employee in the usual sense. You are free and encouraged to do other work, since the workflow might be sporadic and occasional, and is dependent on the demand from our clients.
Do I need to register as a business and get an HST number?
You do not need to register as a business and get an HST number unless your total revenue from freelance jobs is over $30.000 per year (Canadian residents only).
Inuktut is part of my culture and heritage and working with Wintranslation helps keep the future of our language alive.
I love that Wintranslation assigns me flexible work that I can do remotely, from the comfort of my own home or when I travel. The mobile and flexible work suits my needs and gives me a lot of freedom.
Gloria P., Inuktut Translator
ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᓕᕆᔨᐅᑉᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᓗᒋᑦ ᕕᓐᑐᕌᓐᔅᓕᓴᓐᑯᓐᓂ ᐱᔨᕆᔨᖏᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᖏᑕ − ᐱᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᑭᐅᓲᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑎᑕᖃᕌᖓᒪ ᐅᑎᕈᓐᓇᕈᑎᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓈᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ. ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓ ᐃᓅᓯᒻᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᓗᒋᑦ ᕕᓐᑐᕌᓐᔅᓕᓴᓐᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓯᒪᑦᓯᒋᐊᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐆᒪᖁᑉᓗᒍ.
ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᒋᔭᒃᑲ ᕕᓐᑐᕌᓐᔅᓕᓴᓐᑯᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓈᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᕐᓗᖓ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᔭᒻᓃᓪᓗᖓᓗ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᑎᓪᓗᖓ. ᐃᖏᕐᕋᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑲᐅᓈᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔪᓐᓇᕐᒋᑦ ᖃᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᖢᐊᓈᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ.
Gloria P., Inuktut Translator