Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 05/04) - Seven Northerners and two organizations were recognized for their work to preserve their traditional language.

David Gon uses music to help teach the Dogrib language to young people. He was recognized with a Language Leader Award. - Daniel T'seleie/NNSL photo

Mary Cardinal (Cree), David Gon (Dogrib), Anne-Marie Vigeant (French), Philip Constant (South Slavey), Lucy Jackson (North Slavey), Ann Firth-Jones (Gwich'in), Mary Teddy (Inuvialuktun), The Deninu Kue Chipewyan Language Working Group (Chipewyan) and the Holman Sing Along Group (Inuinnaqtun) were the recipients of the 2003 Language Leader Awards.

"It's our identity. Part of who we are is our language," said Lucy Jackson of Fort Good Hope.

North Slavey is Jackson's first language, but after eight years at residential school she had forgotten how to speak it. She re-learned her language at 16 and today it is commonplace for her.

"It's an everyday language that I use a lot," Jackson said.

Jackson does translating work for the Department of Justice as well as for community groups and the band council. She is very pleased with a recent language workshop and its success.

"It was incredible, awesome," Jackson said.

Understanding culture

She hopes to teach the young people their traditional language in the context of hunting and the land.

This view is shared by Mary Teddy of Inuvik. She too lost her language, Inuvialuktun, after attending residential school. When she returned and her brother would ask her about the weather, she did not know how to respond.

Teddy thinks people will not understand their culture and their connection to the land unless they know their language.

There is an aesthetic value as well.

"I thought 'it's so beautiful.' I started to learn it one word at a time," Teddy said.

Teddy is still active in teaching her language in schools and with translating work.

David Gon of Rae takes a different approach.

"Song writing in Dogrib is the best way to keep the language alive," Gon said. He began writing Dogrib songs in the 1980s with a tune named "The Loon Calling Me."

Gon still writes songs, including an ABCs song for the Dogrib alphabet.

Gon thinks technology is a valuable tool. "I can make a hand-game on Nintendo (to teach traditional ways)," Gon said.

He hopes to get a recording studio in Rae and promote Dogrib songwriting. He says there is much hidden musical talent in the Dogrib people and the music should be encouraged.

Gon loves the music, but for him there is a deeper meaning for him.

"Mostly it's a focus on the language," Gon said. "You have to practise it, or else you lose it."