LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Dehcho First Nations held a meeting late last month to examine how it will approach an opportunity and a challenge it has been presented.

Sonya Cayen of West Point First Nation, left, Joyce McLeod and Jonas Landry both of Fort Providence participate in Dehcho First Nations' language meeting April 30 in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

On April 1, aboriginal governments in the NWT became responsible for aboriginal language revitalization. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment signed multi-year funding agreements with local governments for the implementation of their five-year aboriginal language plans.

Dehcho First Nations' (DFN) meeting held April 28 to 30 brought together approximately 20 people representing each member community to discuss how the new arrangement will be implemented.

"It was a surprise to us," said Alison de Pelham, DFN's acting executive director, about receiving responsibility for aboriginal language, literacy and Language Nests funding.

The participants in the meeting – many of whom work with aboriginal language programs in their communities – acknowledged that it makes sense for aboriginal governments to have the lead in language revitalization, but are concerned about the limited funding and limited resources available, especially in the smaller communities.

"It's a critical piece," said de Pelham.

"We're facing the loss of language."

She used Trout Lake as an example; the community has received approximately $8,500 in the past for a year's worth of programming.

"What can you do with that?" she questioned.

Under its new three-year agreement, DFN will receive $599,630 for three years of aboriginal language and literacy programming throughout the region. The amount includes increased administrative funding for DFN.

DFN will also receive $260,000 for three years for the four Language Nests immersion programs for young children that are already being run in the region. Because the funding is already allotted to the existing programs, there is a question of what will happen if another Deh Cho community wants to start a program, she said.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is working to access more funding for aboriginal languages, said Rita Mueller, the department's assistant deputy minister.

The aboriginal governments were funded based on the the amount they identified they would need to implement their five-year aboriginal language plans the department supported them in creating. ECE wasn't able to provide 100 per cent of what the governments requested, but the groups have received a lot more than previously, Mueller said.

Education Minister Jackson Lafferty has been lobbying the federal government to get additional funds for aboriginal languages through a new funding agreement. Formal negotiations are scheduled to be begin in the next few weeks. That could mean additional money would become available for the aboriginal governments to support the aboriginal language groups, said Mueller.

ECE decided to transfer the responsibility for aboriginal languages based on a unified theme that was heard from language boards, elders and participants at the two aboriginal language symposiums that were held in recent years.

"In the Northwest Territories aboriginal languages are best strengthened and managed by the regional aboriginal people themselves," said Mueller.

Prior to this change all of the aboriginal language revitalization funding was managed by the department and given out on an application basis yearly. The multi-year funding agreements will allow the aboriginal governments to implement their five-year plans knowing there is funding available, said Mueller.

"This has really been a big shift," she said.

"We are really excited about this."

DFN has already hired Dorothy Minoza of Fort Providence, a language specialist, to add more detail to DFN's five-year plan and begin working with the communities to develop programs that reflect the plan. During the meeting, participants talked about concerns and expectations about program delivery and the types of programs that could be offered including on-the-land camps and a radio station completely in Dene Zhatie.

DFN will have a regional language committee that will review proposals for funding from the member groups and assist the communities that have limited funding and resources, said de Pelham. Ways to share programs and resources are being examined.

Andy Norwegian, one of the meeting participants, is in favour of aboriginal governments having responsibility for language revitalization. In most Deh Cho communities, schools are the only places the language is being taught, said Norwegian, a language specialist with the Dehcho Divisional Education Council.

"The school by itself will not be able to revitalize the language," he said.

It will take the whole language community's efforts to revitalize the language and whatever happens in the community will enhance the schools' work, he said.

Norwegian spoke about the need for more certified language instructors during the meeting.

Meeting participants proposed using $30,000 annually from the administration funding DFN has received to support people from the region in becoming certified and also earmarking four scholarships for aboriginal language studies.