Fort Simpson (Apr 14/06) - In August 1980, Andy Norwegian took a teaching position in a one-room school in his home community of Jean Marie River.

In a class of 14, he discovered only two students were bilingual, four students spoke some Slavey and eight students spoke only English.

Martina Norwegian presents Andy Norwegian a certificate in recognition of his 25 years of service in education. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Twenty years earlier in the same community, Slavey was the first language, followed by English.

It was this discrepancy that made Norwegian, the language specialist for the Dehcho Divisional Board of Education, first decide to specialize in languages. Twenty-five years later the interest is still with him.

Norwegian was honoured for his 25 years of service in education on April 5. The presentation was made at the cultural centre in Fort Simpson during the semi-annual meeting of education council chairs and the minister of education.

"The strength of our Slavey program is in no small part due to him," said Nolan Swartzentruber, the Deh Cho's superintendent of education.

Norwegian is considered an asset by everyone who has an interest in language, said Swartzentruber.

He has worked with Norwegian for the past 23 years. During that time, he's found Norwegian to be a team player.

"He's an all-around good person, well respected by everybody," said Swartzentruber.

During the award presentation, Martina Norwegian noted that she considers herself to be fluent in South Slavey, but when she listens to Andy, she realizes she is no where close to his level.

"One of Andy's strengths is how he studies to be articulate," said Martina, the chair of the Dehcho Education Council.

She commended Andy for becoming a specialist and for all the work and vision that went into creating the South Slavey verb dictionary.

After teaching in Jean Marie River for a year, Norwegian transferred to Bompas elementary school in Fort Simpson for four years before taking the language specialist position with the board of education.

"Working with language specialists from other regions on a generic curriculum and seeing what was possible kept me motivated," said Norwegian.

He also enjoyed working with elders and hearing their concerns.

It was elders such as his own father who encouraged him to continue speaking his language and maintain his culture.

Norwegian also credits his wife Rolande for keeping him on his goal and pressing him to attend linguistic courses at the University of New Mexico when the opportunity arose.

Highlights of Norwegian's career so far have included tutoring the Pope during his visit. He taught him to say a few words in Slavey.

Researching and creating the South Slavey verb dictionary has also been a bright point.