Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Marten River (Apr 14/00) - What may be forgettable when just rehearsed in the classroom takes on a whole new dimension when it is learned in an entirely different context - such as in the bush.

With that principle in mind, close to a dozen people ventured to Marten River for a couple days last week as part of a 15-day Slavey language course offered by Arctic College and the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education.

Entitled Language Through Traditional Outdoor Education, the course involved several educators who teach Slavey as a second language in Deh Cho schools.

By establishing a camp site, which involved setting up a tent, building a fire, making dry fish and dry meat, setting snares, cooking and chopping wood, the participants referred to most items in Slavey and tried to carry on conversations using the Dene language.

"If you get them involved in activities where they're using the language, they tend to hang on to it a lot better," said Mitsuko Oishi, course instructor. "It sort of brings it home, I think."

Participant Margaret Leishman said the course has provided her with a new way to help deliver the language to Kakisa students.

"It's a different way of teaching the language - by looking at (things) and feeling them, and using all their senses," she said. "I find it better than just standing at the blackboard and talking."

Sophie Borcoman, who has taken Slavey lessons in a classroom setting over the past several months, said the camp setting helped her better understand the social and cultural rules and made her more attune to gestures and body language.

"Unless you get to be around people using the language naturally, it's hard to speak the language in a natural way," Oishi added.

There are five different Slavey dialects in the region and the similarities and differences became obvious during the course. Nevertheless, the exercise was very worthwhile, said Leishman.

"We really have to find a way to get it across because the language is dying," she said, adding that elders must once again play a pivotal role in helping to pass it on. "I go for things that are new to get the language going again. Anything and everything helps.

"I find it's a good way through a course like this. Everything comes alive again," she said.