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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Two years after its original launch, an interactive tool designed to help children learn Dene Zhatie is continuing to expand.

Lucy Simon, right, shows students at Louie Norwegian School including Kody Hardisty-Sangris, left, and Stephan Hardisty-Guyot how to prepare a grouse. The demonstration is part of the new video material in the We Are Speaking the Dene Way app developed by Anyes Fabre-Dimsdale of Fort Simpson and the Deh Cho Friendship Centre. - photo courtesy of Anyes Fabre-Dimsdale

In September 2011, Anyes Fabre-Dimsdale and the Deh Cho Friendship Centre released We Are Speaking the Dene Way, an interactive DVD-ROM created to teach children ages three and older the basics of the Deh Cho's traditional language, also known as Slavey.

Since then, Fabre-Dimsdale and the centre have continued their collaboration to produce additional language resources.

Launched as a free app

In 2012 the resource was developed into a website. It is now being launched as a free app for iPads available on the Apple app store or iTunes.

Because of the increased usage of iPads in schools, it became obvious the instructional material should be turned into an app, said Fabre-Dimsdale. The app contains all of the original information from the DVD-ROM including audio and video clips which teach the Dene Zhatie alphabet, numbers, colours and words associated with food, family, animals and simple greetings.

The app and website also have two new sections including one about food from the land and another on two traditional stories.

"We want to keep adding fresh content to keep the resource interesting," Fabre-Dimsdale said.

Just as with the original content, the development of the new material involved adults and children from the Deh Cho.

The food from the land section contains eight five- to 10-minute videos demonstrating the preparation of country food incorporating Dene Zhatie language instructions. The videos include Elizabeth Hardisty preparing rabbit soup at Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson and Lucy Simon preparing a grouse at Louie Norwegian School in Jean Marie River.

Fabre-Dimsdale, who has a background in fine arts and film, used student volunteers from Fort Simpson to act out the two traditional stories including Zhamba Dezha Sings to the Ducks and Stories About the Beginning of the Earth.

"The kids were so enthusiastic," she said.

Fabre-Dimsdale said working with youth and organizing and documenting traditional activities in the communities have been among her favourite parts of the project. The activities give the youth a chance to interact with elders and learn, she said.

Fabre-Dimsdale and Aaron McNab, the executive director of the Friendship Centre, said they've been encouraged by the reception the project has received.

"I find it's been quite successful," McNab said.

Designed for children

Some schools in the Deh Cho are using the DVD-ROM, website or app. Although it's designed for children, adults have also been using it to learn the language, said Fabre-Dimsdale.

McNab, who's used the program, said he likes how it involves local students and he enjoys looking at the claymation clips.

"Some of them are funny to watch," he said.

As long as they can continue to secure funding, McNab and Fabre-Dimsdale hope to continue the project, which will include adding more material for the app.

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