Keeping indigenous languages alive
As Aboriginal Languages Month continues, language advocate says revitalization needed now
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 30, 2017
DEH CHO
When a language dies, so does part of one's identity.
Rosie Betsedea, left, and Sharon Allen play a game of Go Fish during an afternoon at Aurora College. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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The NWT Literacy Council has dubbed March as Aboriginal Languages Month. Fort Simpson's Sharon Allen, who recently became a member of the council, says the pressing need to grow and revitalize indigenous languages is more important than ever.
Allen helped to organize an afternoon of language learning and games at Aurora College on March 24 in honour of the month.
Having taught Dene Zhatie to students in Fort Simpson in the past, she is no stranger to beginners who are just starting to learn the language and has developed her own techniques and games to help them along.
On March 24, she invited participants to partake in memory-based card games, games of Go Fish! and songs translated into Dene Zhatie.
For Allen, being fluent in her language is a way of putting pride in who she is. That, she said, is something she wants to see flourish among indigenous communities - and that doesn't just mean Dene Zhatie.
"That applies to all indigenous languages," she said.
"Not having that means you're missing a huge part of you."
As a member of the NWT Literacy Council, Allen said she hopes to be able to promote Dene Zhatie while on the board.
She pointed to forays in technology - such as language apps for phones and video language lessons - as ways to engage people in learning languages.
"We're not doing a good enough job with the system we have in place to preserve our language," she said.
"There are so many ways to communicate our language that it shouldn't be in decline."
It is important, she added, for people to put pressure on the system to make language revitalization more of a priority.
This month, the NWT Literacy Council launched a social media campaign called My Language Matters.
The initiative encourages people to make a video of themselves speaking their language. The council is giving out weekly prizes for the initiative.
Allen said that initiative is one way indigenous language-speakers can work to preserve their language.
"We need to promote this in as many ways as possible. I can't stress enough how important it is," she said.
"Language is a living thing, and when it is no longer alive people do not have that attachment to who they are."
