An Inuvik-based working group is close to completing a new book to help preserve the many GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n languages.

Meeting June 10-11 at the Nihtat GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council Chambers, the Language Champion program practiced sentence structure and verb tenses, building on an earlier immersive camp where the 14 participants spoke exclusively GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n.

Now, their work has been crystallized into a book to help teach two distinct dialects of GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n SA国际影视传媒� TeetlSA国际影视传媒檌t and Gwichya. The project is part of the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal CouncilSA国际影视传媒檚 (GTC) GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Language Revival Program, which has been in operation for just over two years.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat weSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at here is the result of our collaborative work,SA国际影视传媒� said GTC Language Revitalization Specialist Andrew Cienski, who is overseeing the project. He said the group was proofreading and going over the sentences in the book to ensure accuracy.

Called Dinjii Zhuh Ginjik Ih艂ak GeSA国际影视传媒檛rSA国际影视传媒檕onahtan, roughly translating to SA国际影视传媒渇irst level instruction of Aboriginal language,SA国际影视传媒� the book is nearly 300 pages long, includes an audio edition and is about a year in the making. The project has also served as a means for many people to get in touch with their culture as the group had to first learn their way around the language themselves. Leading up to the two-day proofreading session, the group met twice in immersive camps, first for two weeks and then four more later on to learn to speak and pronounce key words.

Since then, people who are more stronger in the language were paired with a learner. Each member of the group was loaned an iPad to assist them as they continue their education and met with one another online.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou have to let yourself be confused,SA国际影视传媒� said Cienski. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 part of the learning process.SA国际影视传媒�

Many of the participants are Elders hoping to speak GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n with their grandchildren, many of which are involved in the ChildrenSA国际影视传媒檚 First branch of the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Language Revival program, called GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Language Nest and taught by Elder Mabel English.

With only 550 fluent speakers of GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n worldwide and 300 in Canada, the working group is racing against time. GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n is currently listed in the United Nations Atlas of the WorldSA国际影视传媒檚 Languages in Danger.

So far, their efforts are paying off, with many participants commenting that theySA国际影视传媒檙e starting to have breakthroughs in language acquisition.

SA国际影视传媒淚 can speak and hear GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n in my dreams,SA国际影视传媒� said Ruth Wright. SA国际影视传媒淪o itSA国际影视传媒檚 in there somewhere. I just have to figure out how to pull it out.SA国际影视传媒�

Work on the book is being finalized by the Language Champions, which should be finished by November. Cienski said he was expecting the book to be ready for the public at the start of the new year, either December or January. Graduates of the program may be eligible to work in the On the Land Program next year to reduce the burden on Elders.

To enroll your child in the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Language Nest Immersion program, contact the ChildrenSA国际影视传媒檚 First Centre at 777-3703. To volunteer with the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Language Revival Program, contact the GTC at 777-7900.