LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Students enrolled in the indigenous language revitalization program have completed another segment of the program.

Language students enrolled in Dene Zhatie put on a shadow show for students from Bompas Elementary School on Jan. 18. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Their latest course wrapped up Jan. 20, just days after the class put on a Dene Zhatie shadow show for students from Bompas Elementary School.

That event involved students gathering in groups or as individuals to tell stories and legends related to indigenous culture.

Cheryl Cli, who performed solo to tell the story of a woman who could turn into a rabbit, said the course has "empowered" her to try to make a difference.

In Cli's tale, the woman lived alone in the bush and when in her human form was pitied by others because she didn't have a family. But when she transformed into a rabbit, it turned out she actually had a lot of family - a husband and plenty of children - living in the bush.

"I challenged myself to come up with something unique," she said of the story she told.

"It's a story I heard from other people, and I built on it and made it my own. That's the heart of Dene storytelling - there's the underlying truth, but it's never told in the same way."

Other stories told by her classmates taught Dene Laws such as sharing what you have, while some told legends such as How The Bear Lost His Tail.

The course brought together approximately a dozen language learners from across the Deh Cho, with many travelling into Fort Simpson from Fort Providence and beyond to learn from teachers including language expert Andy Norwegian.

Cli, who grew up immersed in her culture and whose first language is Dene Zhatie, said she took the program in order to gain a better understanding of the linguistic part of her language.

"As much as I thought I knew, I didn't," she said.

"Now, I'm part of something that will benefit future generations. We've also developed a sisterhood among us students - that connection is one of my favourite parts."

As the students learn from their teachers and from one another, Cli said the most important lesson of all has been to speak her language at every opportunity.

"If you know your language, speak it, no matter how little you know," she said.

"Otherwise, it's a detriment to yourself and to your culture."

The indigenous language revitalization program is offered through the University of Victoria's bachelor of education program, and was extended to include sessions in the Deh Cho.