By Karli Zsch枚gner
Special to Inuvik Drum
InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 beautiful log Ingamo Hall was the centre of three days of deep discussion and strategizing plans for Dinjii Zhuh-GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n language learning and mentorship from April 4 to 6.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 so grateful to have this opportunity to come here,SA国际影视传媒� said Ashley Ens, originally from Inuvik, currently residing in Lethbridge, AB.
Over 60 registered and attended the Ind貌o TrSA国际影视传媒檈ed脿h-Moving Forwards GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Language Gathering from other regions and provinces including Ontario. The gathering was hosted by the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council.
SA国际影视传媒淣etworking has been great, the online resources that they were telling us about [are] amazing,SA国际影视传媒� she Ens, who is working on her Ph.D. on Lethbridge decolonizing post-secondary education. SA国际影视传媒淚 really learn by seeing and doing and just the fact that everything is online, and they have the audio component, I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 really going to help me as I progress to learn my language.SA国际影视传媒�
With lineups out the door, Tuesday evening they hosted a public feast followed by fiddling and performances from the TeetlSA国际影视传媒檌t GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Dancers and Inuvik Inuvilauit drum dancers.
The gatheringSA国际影视传媒檚 discussions evoked emotions connected to the historical legacy of the residential schools and punishment under that system for speaking their language.
The negative side of the discussion was balanced with presentations and discussions encouraging youthful fun and laughter as having an integral role in helping learn a language, explained by Aklavik Moose Kerr School GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n language teacher Anna-Lee McLeod, who presented examples of interactive online and tactile lessons, games, and songs.
Andrew Cienski also presented on the work he facilitated under the GTC since 2018 as a language revitalization specialist. This included the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n language website, full of online audio, visual lessons and interactive online storybooks in TeetlSA国际影视传媒檌t, Gwichyah, and Vuntut-Old Crow dialects.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen elders talk about the importance of culture in language, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a very profound and real truth,SA国际影视传媒� he said on the importance of experiential and on-the-land learning. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not something that just sounds nice to say.SA国际影视传媒�
Working with local elders like TeetlSA国际影视传媒檌t Zheh-Fort McPhersonSA国际影视传媒檚 Mary-Effie Snowshoe, he said they have developed two beginner-level textbooks and a series of seven storybooks for different levels. One book is Peter tsSA国际影视传媒櫭爐 Indeedzit TsSA国际影视传媒檌k with artwork by Miles Debastien, an original story from Dawson City youth Peter Greenland.
From working with GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n and other Indigenous languages, heSA国际影视传媒檚 learned the importance of getting away from the Western-academic textbook focus in language learning; rather ensuring the learning is using all senses. This includes getting out on the land with a fluent speaker, touching bark, gutting a fish and repeating the language to these actions.
SA国际影视传媒淚f you could actually touch a piece of bark or a piece of sandpaper when youSA国际影视传媒檙e learning the word rough, you will remember it better than if you just see the word rough written on a page,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
He said there are three more storybooks yet to be published as they wait on artwork.
The gathering was organized by GTCSA国际影视传媒檚 manager of early learning and language Michelle Wright and emceed by language consultant and former Aklavik principal Velma Illasiak.
Teetlit Zheh-Fort McPhersonSA国际影视传媒檚 Robert Koe was one of the few young people at the gathering. He shared as an example in ThursdaySA国际影视传媒檚 community brainstorming session how, through years of consistent repetition over the schoolsSA国际影视传媒� intercom and radio, he was able to learn and memorize a prayer in GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n.
