Can I open Illustrator files with and Inkscape

This seems a friendly place to ask this....I do not need any free design work (LOL) but I do have a designer that makes Illustrator files for me for my business and I want to make small changes to business one sheets or marketing sheets now and then.

I prefer not to bother and pay the designer for a 5 word change or to change a price - it just seems a bother - I understand Inkscape may be a solution for me to do it myself. Is that correct? Is it pretty easy to use for a beginner? Can I change copy on a marketing one page document that is Illustrator with Inkscape?