Preserving Northern Languages will require the GNWT to make significant changes to how it is taught in schools and public institutions.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 the view of language preservers and Elders who came out to a June 7 public hearing on the NWT Official Languages Act, which is up for a five-year review. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the first of several hearings to be held around the territory.

And the people who came out had a lot to say.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need to recruit people from the nine aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� said Elder and former language commissioner Sarah Jerome. SA国际影视传媒淚 think the languages commissioner has to be visible, so if I have a concern I can sit down with her or him and be able to talk face to face. So it has to be someone who is going to travel.

SA国际影视传媒淭he key is to show us that you care. Show us that the language is important, because weSA国际影视传媒檙e struggling at the community level.SA国际影视传媒�

One change she recommended was moving back to an immersion-based learning system instead of in-classroom instruction. She noted schools used to devote 210 hours to Indigenous languages but now only 90 hours are devoted to covering both GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n and Inuvialuktun.

She suggested language teachers should have an Elder as a teaching assistant, since most trained educators are not fluent in GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n or Inuvialuktun.

Restoring the Language Instructional Program at Aurora College is also essential in preserving the northern languages. Jerome also suggested requiring GNWT staff to learn both languages to set an example, which she said was the practice when she worked for the government.

GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council languages revitalization coordinator Andrew Cienski said the GNWT needs to rethink the timing of funding for programs. He echoed JeromeSA国际影视传媒檚 call for a return to immersion, noting research has established it as the most effective tool for teaching.

Simplifying processes to make it easier to apply for funding would also be a great help, according to Cienski. He complained they often donSA国际影视传媒檛 get funding until months after it was needed.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou need to be Dr. Who to figure out how this works,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur staff are not going to sit around waiting to find out in September if they have a job.SA国际影视传媒�

He also suggested the languages commissioner could become a repository for tools and information that could be shared by Indigenous groups across Canada so language revitalization programs arenSA国际影视传媒檛 stuck having to re-invent the wheel.

Celina Jerome, a GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n and concerned citizen, said there were only a handful of fluent GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n speakers left. She noted she was only able to find one interpreter SA国际影视传媒� Mabel English SA国际影视传媒� to cover GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n translations for the night. Lilian Elias covered the translations for Inuvialuktun.

She also echoed CienskiSA国际影视传媒檚 concerns about the timing of funding, noting the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n language program at the Children First Society almost shut down in June from a lack of funding.

Inuvik-Twin Lakes MLA Lesa Semmler drove the challenges in preserving northern languages home as she responded to JeromeSA国际影视传媒檚 suggestions.

SA国际影视传媒淚 grew up in this community. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know my language,SA国际影视传媒� she said, noting her sole opportunity growing up was taking a Northern Studies class in high school. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a big change that needs to happen. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 been reviews and reviews of the official languages act and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 been recommendations and at one point there even has been responses from the government. Not this government, but previous ones.

SA国际影视传媒淲e can review it every five years, but is the government going to do anything?SA国际影视传媒�

A final report to the legislature is due in October. The Standing Committee is accepting written submissions up until the end of September.