TETLIT'ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON - Edward Wright has big plans for the Gwich'in Social And Cultural Institute (GSCI).

The Fort McPherson Resident is the resource co-ordinator. Sometimes it seems as if his job is a race against time. In his office hangs a picture of a group of elders.

Edward Wright stands among thousands of years worth of knowledge in the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute in Fort McPherson. - Brodie Thomas/NNSL photo

"There's close to a thousand years of knowledge all gone in that picture," said Wright. The ladies in that shot have all passed on, taking with them their stories and snippets of the Gwich'in language.

Luckily, the language is safe in a few places. Wright pulls a leather bound book off the shelf. It is a copy of the bible translated into Gwich'in. It was translated by Reverend Robert MacDonald, one of the first Anglican missionaries to set up shop in Fort McPherson. He then produces another book. This one is a Gwich'in-English dictionary.

The GSCI has a mandate to preserve and bring to life all aspects of Gwich'in culture. Wright said he has many plans for the institute.

"I want to try to maintain the functionality of this place but still give it a vision with the technological side as well," he said.

He understands that it is hard for tradition to compete with the latest computer games and movies when vying for the attention of youth. He hopes to set up workstations with interactive language games in the four Gwich'in communities.

"Computers that aren't connected to the Internet," he adds.

The institute itself is outgrowing its home. The building that houses it is filled to capacity with books, papers, and filing cabinets.

"The eventual goal is to start a fundraising drive to build a new building," said Wright.

In the meantime, he says there is a lot of work to be done.

"There are tapes to be digitized, lots of videos, too, although some have gone astray," he said.

Wright also showed off some children's books developed in partnership with South Slavey language groups. He said groups are always sharing resources and ideas when it comes to traditional language. The children's book used the same artwork and story, but was printed in both Slavey and Gwich'in.

"You have to be crafty, creative, and on your feet," he said.