WhatSA国际影视传媒檚 the key to saving a language? Get people speaking it while theySA国际影视传媒檙e young.

John Norbert is a Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n speaker in Tsiigehtchic. For the last five years heSA国际影视传媒檚 been collaborating with other Elders and Andeloo Language Revitalization as part of efforts by the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n tribal council to preserve their language. The project is working to publish seven childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 books to teach the many dialects dialects of GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e quite a bit different,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen we say weSA国际影视传媒檙e say weSA国际影视传媒檙e walking in my dialect, SA国际影视传媒榥ichiididik,SA国际影视传媒� and when they say that in Fort McPherson, they say SA国际影视传媒榥ahadik.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淪o thatSA国际影视传媒檚 quite a bit of difference. But whatever it is, we seem to understand each other.SA国际影视传媒�

Norbert is part of a growing community of Elders working to keep GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n culture alive. Listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as SA国际影视传媒渟everely endangeredSA国际影视传媒�, GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n has less than 600 speakers worldwide SA国际影视传媒� with 260 speakers across Canada and another 300 in Alaska.

Teet艂SA国际影视传媒檌t GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Elder Mary Effie Snowshoe is working to preserve her GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n dialect on several fronts. A volunteer with the Mentor Apprenticeship program SA国际影视传媒� which just began accepting applications for a new round of paid language lessons SA国际影视传媒� Snowshoe also frequently teaches language at Chief Julius School and has been involved the Language Revitalization project for five years.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the difficult things about learning GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n is there is a lot of ways of saying one thing,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he most difficult part is there is never enough time to teach and comprehend the language. Another thing is itSA国际影视传媒檚 not being utilized enough at home.

SA国际影视传媒淔or me, language is a part of my own lifestyle and identity. I feel itSA国际影视传媒檚 so important to continue working, teaching and preserving it for the young people so it will stay alive.SA国际影视传媒�

With the help of Norbert, Snowshoe and others, Andrew Cienski of Andeloo Language Revitalization is working to put together seven books to for families to practice GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n at home.

Funded through the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Language Revitalization Fund and five years in the making, the project is now nearing publication. They join a growing library of knowledge of traditional knowledge, including a recently developed Apple app called , now available for download.

Each book has already undergone extensive reviews, read three times with each Elder involved to ensure the best possible spelling. Some of the books are new stories while others are translated from other Dene languages. All books also come with an audio recording of the story.

Cienski said the next step was to recruit GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n artists to illustrate the storybooks.

SA国际影视传媒淭he stories arenSA国际影视传媒檛 related but I tried to address the needs of teachers and learners,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he seven new books span beginner, intermediate and fairly advanced levels of reading and knowledge of GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n. I also tried to cover useful topics. Two of the beginner books cover opposites of up and down, superlatives like big, bigger, biggest and small, smaller and smallest. Another covers numeracy in a very engaging way, learning to count to 10 through a story about fishing.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne more advanced book is an original that I wrote that explores movement. GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n has some amazing ways of describing movement; going towards, moving away, returning, and so on. The process of working through this text captured some extremely valuable words that have not been documented before.SA国际影视传媒�

Noting some of the Elders involved in the project have been fluent in their language for over 50 years, Cienski said he was hoping to see some of the books available by the end of March.

He added having books in the home for families would make for a great tool for both teachers and learners.

Once families are able to speak GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n among themselves, the real learning begins. Both Norbert and Snowshoe pointed out the best way to learn GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n is to get out on the land and see it.

SA国际影视传媒淟anguage should be involved with whatever is going on; like hunting or fishing, how to skin the moose or fillet the fish,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey have to know the names of all the animals and body parts.

SA国际影视传媒淪tart with easy words. Start with kids when theySA国际影视传媒檙e small. They learn fast. Sometimes they pronounce the words even better than me. They take care of each other and help each other and even remind each other to pay attention.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not difficult working with young kids. They catch on fast. You give them a word and they never forget it. They have lots of respect for you. When they see you out in the community they call you Didii and grab hold of you and hug you. Kids are great to work with and I like them.SA国际影视传媒�

Email Michelle Wright at Michelle.Wright@gwichintribal.ca if you are an artist interested in working on the project.