Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 7, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Two professionally-published books telling tales both in English and Dogrib are a landmark in publishing, according to Yellowknife Book Cellar owner Judith Drinnan.

Michelle Zieba, a worker at the Yellowknife Book Cellar, sets up a display for two books written in both Dogrib and English. The project, spearheaded by Yellowknife Catholic Schools, is the first time a book intended for public distribution has been professionally published in Dogrib. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

The Old Man with the Otter Medicine and The Legend of the Caribou Boy, published by Theytus Books of B.C., have been on the shelves since the end of September. They are both stories written by the late John Blondin as told by his father George Blondin, a well-known Behchoko elder and author.

The stories were originally recorded by Barb Cameron, who was previously a curator at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

The project was spearheaded by Diane Lafferty, aboriginal culture and language co-ordinator for Yellowknife Catholic Schools.

"We wanted to be able to see Dogrib books on Yellowknife bookshelves," said Lafferty.

Lafferty said the books help create a sense of pride for readers not used to seeing their own language in books.

"If we want to create a sense of identity in kids, they have to see themselves in print," said Lafferty.

The brightly-illustrated books are written in both English and Dogrib, and come with an interactive CD that allows readers to hear the books narrated in either language.

Fifteen hundred copies of the books are being distributed to schools teaching the Dogrib language, including Yk Education District No. 1 schools and in all the Tlicho communities.

The Book Cellar had 50 copies of each book, and Drinnan said the store has sold 15 of each.

A portion of the proceeds from the books is being donated to the Aboriginal Special Collection at the Chief Jimmy Bruneau school library in Behchoko.

The project began after an artists' workshop held by YCS two years ago in book illustration. From that workshop, artists Ray McSwain of Behchoko and Archie Beaverho of Whati were chosen to illustrate the books.

Drinnan said that while there have been some other books published in Dogrib, they have been "Xerox and staple" type of material.

A third book titled Yamozha and his Beaver Wife will be launched in conjunction with a display at the museum at the end of November. The display will be about the legends of Yamozha and Yamoria and how they help explain the natural features of the land, and the laws that connect the Dene people.

The money for the project came from Canadian Heritage, through the department of Education, Culture, and Employment.