The apple doesn't fall far from the tree when it comes to Annabelle Tetlichi and her family.
A teacher at East Three secondary school in Inuvik, she said she got into the role after her mother.
"My mother, Annie Jane Charlie, she was there prior to me, and she retired maybe three years ago and I took over," she said.
Now, Tetlichi teaches Gwich'in to her students in grades 7, 8 and 9. She's also a recent recipient of the second language learner award. It's part of the GNWT's mentor apprentice program that promotes learning an Indigenous language, where a fluent speaker teaches a language to a learner. Ideally, it's to strengthen the survival of Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories.
Tetlichi said she's learning her Indigenous language from her mother, adding that speaking Gwich'in has been the best way for her to learn it.
She said she's always going to her mother's house for chats.
"We just talk," she said. "Sometimes I get my nephews in there and we'll start talking a little bit with them."
Tetlichi said her favourite thing to talk about has been introducing herself. It's been a neat tool in getting familiar with her students too.
"When I first start my class, I ask them who are their parents," Tetlichi explained. "And that's where I know, 'oh, I know you're mom, or I know your grandfather, he's from so-and-so."
Tetlichi said she started the mentor program three years ago. It's taught her how to ask questions in Gwich'in as well as help teach her students to converse with each other. She added that more and more students want to take Indigenous language classes once they reach high school too. For her, teaching this has been special.
"I have those 'ah ha' moments where you see or hear students speaking the language and you're not even telling them too," she said. "A big one is trying to introduce themselves, and to hear them say that is like 'OK, I did my job.'"
Tetlichi is a teacher, but that hasn't stopped her from learning. She said she's taking some Indigenous language courses at the University of Alberta for the summer. "It'll be my second year this year."
She has about five courses left, she said. When she's done, she'll have a certificate to show for it.
"I'm always wanting to learn."
Tetlichi paused when asked why she cares so much about learning Gwich'in. She said she does it for her family. That, and she wants to be able to pass on her knowledge.
"They say our language is dying, but it's not. It's sleeping, we're just waking it up."