https://vimeo.com/501930516
A video documentary about the Gwich'in Tribal Council's language revitalization programs was recently published online. It showcases both the Preschool Nest program run through Children's First Society as well as an adult workshop that was held in the fall of 2020.
Video courtesy tencoloursproductions.
Gwich'in of all ages are getting in touch with their roots, thanks in large part to efforts of a Language Revitalization Program operated by Gwich'in Tribal Council.
Now nearing two years in operation, the program helps Gwich'in rediscover their mother tongue through an immersive daycare program, as well as hosting workshops to help adults speak the language of their grandparents.
"Language, ideally, is learned in the living room," said GTC language revitalization coordinator Andrew Cienski. "Language is how we describe the world that we live in and it reflects our relationship with the world.
"All of the knowledge of the environment is inside that language. The medicines, the plants and the animals. All of these things are what communities have learned over the millennia."
Known as the "Preschool Nest" program or Tr'iinin Tsal Ginjik Ge'tr'oonahtun (Teaching Language to the children,) the daily Gwich'in Language immersion program is run through the Children First Centre in Inuvik, where children learn to speak Gwich'in and the proper names for animals, plants and other historically important things from around the Beaufort Delta.
Initially a half-day program, the nest has now grown to a full-day of activities.
While the language is still only spoken by a very small percentage of Gwich'in — there are less than 300 speakers of Gwich'in in Canada and at most 550 speakers world-wide — the revitalization project is making up a lot of ground in very short time.
"Growing up in Inuvik I learned that my Gwich'in language can go extinct in a generation or two," said Jacey Firth-Hagen, founder of #SpeakGwichinToMe, who is involved in the program. "It has always been important to me to learn my language and carry it on.
"The more you understand and realize our language isn't static, it's always evolving. It's a living entity."
It's not just children reconnecting with their roots however. In the fall of 2020, the GTC also held an adult immersion program to help Elders and staff pick up the language. Several Elders were able to speak the language of their grandparents after just a two workshops of practice.
More adult workshops are being planned. Cienski noted part of the intent behind releasing the video is to raise awareness of the programs and to invite more Gwich'in to participate.
"If Elders or speakers of any age were interested in helping out, we would be very happy to make that happen," he said. "Even if they could only drop in occasionally we would love to have them. Of course we would take all necessary precautions to keep them safe in relation to Covid.
"It would be wonderful to have speakers to come and spend time in our class, even on a drop in schedule. The joy of the children is really infectious. It would be great to see even more community members get involved to support the efforts of the staff and Elder who working so hard to bring language to the new generation.
Anyone interested in enroling their child in the nest program can contact Children First Society at 777-3703 to get started. To get involved in the language revitalization program, contact the Gwich'in Tribal Council at 777-7900.