YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 1 YNLC ACTIVITIES REPORT COVERING THE PERIOD JULY – DECEMBER 2009 Highlights YNLC moved into summer activities following Yukon College graduation and the close of school language programs in June. In July, staff linguist Doug Hitch presented recent YNLC research on the Kohklux maps at the International Conference on the History of Cartography in Copenhagen, Denmark. In July and August, YNLC Director John Ritter attended meetings at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. YNLC's Linda Harvey and Mary Jane Allison attended the six-week summer session at UAF, continuing coursework toward academic degrees offered collaboratively with Yukon College and YNLC. Two Alaskan visitors from the Upper Kuskokwim region came to YNLC in August for technical training for web-based language projects. With the start of school programs in the fall, the Centre also resumed its training schedule which continued to the Christmas break. Eleven instructors from three Yukon language groups participated in the September Native Language Certificate/Diploma training session spearheaded by YNLC coordinators Linda Harvey and Jo-Anne Johnson. In late November, YNLC held one of its largest-ever Tukudh (Gwich’in) literacy sessions, with thirty-one participants from Yukon, NWT, and Alaska. Successful Tlingit and Hän literacy sessions were also held this fall. Cooperative work with the Yukon Geographical Place Names Board continued in the fall and included a place-name survey of the Kusawa Lake and Mendenhall River area. Looking north at Na/khu\ç, traditional rafting-across point on Kusawa Lake. The Southern Tutchone name for the lake, Na/khu\ç MaÜn, comes from this feature.
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YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 1
YNLC ACtivities RepoRtCoveRiNg the peRiod JuLY – deCembeR 2009
HighlightsYNLC moved into summer activities following Yukon
College graduation and the close of school language programs in June. In July, staff linguist Doug Hitch presented recent YNLC research on the Kohklux maps at the International Conference on the History of Cartography in Copenhagen, Denmark. In July and August, YNLC Director John Ritter attended meetings at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. YNLC's Linda Harvey and Mary Jane Allison attended the six-week summer session at UAF, continuing coursework toward academic degrees offered collaboratively with Yukon College and YNLC. Two Alaskan visitors from the Upper Kuskokwim region came to YNLC in August for technical training for web-based language projects.
With the start of school programs in the fall, the Centre also resumed its training schedule which continued to the Christmas break. Eleven instructors from three Yukon language groups participated in the September Native Language Certificate/Diploma training session spearheaded by YNLC coordinators Linda Harvey and Jo-Anne Johnson.
In late November, YNLC held one of its largest-ever Tukudh (Gwich’in) literacy sessions, with thirty-one participants from Yukon, NWT, and Alaska. Successful Tlingit and Hän literacy sessions were also held this fall.
Cooperative work with the Yukon Geographical Place Names Board continued in the fall and included a place-name survey of the Kusawa Lake and Mendenhall River area.
Looking north at Na/khu\ç, traditional rafting-across point on Kusawa Lake. The Southern Tutchone name for the lake, Na/khu\ç MaÜn, comes from this feature.
YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 2
Anthropologist Julie Cruikshank, under YNLC sponsorship, produced the manuscript text on the travels of Edward Glave in the southwest Yukon.
YNLC Elder Margaret Workman returned to YNLC to assist in transcribing and translating her Southern Tutchone story about the importance of sharing food in traditional aboriginal society.
As a Council of Yukon First Nations program, YNLC participated in discussions on native language revitalization in connection with the Northern Strategy Trust for enhancing the quality of life for northern peoples.
Tlingit Elder Emma Sam Honoured With National Award
In September, respected Teslin Tlingit elder and fluent speaker Emma Sam received a national literacy award for her work in keeping the Tlingit
l a n g u a g e alive. The Council of the Federation Literacy Award was presented in a ceremony at the Yukon Legislature by Education Minister Patrick Rouble. The award was created in 2004 to recognize the importance of literacy as an essential building block for a vibrant society and economy.
Emma was born to David and Rosie Johnston of the Teslin Tlingit First Nation and is of the Ishkìtàn clan. Her Tlingit name is Wakhsâni. She grew up speaking her language and worked for years as an interpreter for the Yukon government before moving on to become a teacher of Tlingit. She has participated in many Tlingit literacy sessions at YNLC, and has also contributed to the creation of YNLC's Interior Tlingit Noun Dictionary (2001). In 2000 Emma published Yú.á “They Say”, a Tlingit language booklet and tape, and with YNLC assistance released an accompanying CD. She now teaches adult language classes at CYFN in Whitehorse and continues to pass her cultural traditions on to her children and grandchildren.
Emma Sam holds her Literacy Award
Linda Harvey and Mary-Jane Allison
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New Native Lan-guage Instructor at Kluane Lake School
Lillian Underwood has been hired as native language instructor at Kluane Lake School in Destruction Bay. Rural Programs Coordinator Jo-Anne Johnson visited the school to review lesson plans, curriculum guide, and materials with her.
Teacher TrainingCertificate and Diploma Training Session
In September, eleven Yukon language instructors attended the week-long training session for students enrolled in both the Certificate and Diploma programs. YNLC staff presented material on language structure, including listening exercises and sentence structure, and on teaching techniques, including methods for teaching about people, animals, and household objects. Participants led demonstration lessons, shared teaching ideas and methods, and developed materials for use in their community language programs. Founding elders Gertie Tom and Margaret Workman also participated in the session.
CYFN Language Instructor SessionThis fall Linda Harvey, Jo-Anne Johnson,
and Anne Ranigler organized a one-day session for CYFN language instructors. CYFN continues to offer free language lessons for the public at its Whitehorse office. Most of the CYFN instructors have participated in training at YNLC and utilize YNLC materials in their classes.
Literacy and In-service SessionsTlingit Literacy SessionIn September, YNLC sponsored a visit to
CYFN’s Gwich’in Instructor Linda Netro-Hendrie and Linda Harvey
Kaska Instructor Nancy Sterriah leads a language game
YNLC’s Gertie Tom and Jo-Anne Johnson
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Whitehorse by Dr. Jeff Leer of the Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Twelve participants attended a Tlingit literacy and grammar workshop led by Dr. Leer, including native language instructors from Teslin and Carcross. Participants reviewed Tlingit consonant sounds, studied two classes of verbs, and practised listening exercises in both the Teslin and Carcross dialects. These exercises were created by fluent speaker and experienced Teslin instructor Bessie Cooley as part of her Diploma program requirements. Fluent speaker and Carcross instructor Mamie Smith assisted with the Carcross dialect version.
Teetl'it Gwich’in Grammar Session
In October, YNLC’s John Ritter and André Bourcier held a consultation session on Gwich’in grammar at the request of William Firth, Language Program Manager of the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute in Fort McPherson NWT. The session focused on Gwich'in verb analysis.
Tukudh (Gwich’in) Literacy Session
In late November, John Ritter and André Bourcier led a well-attended session on Tukudh, the older form of the Gwich’in language developed by Archdeacon Robert McDonald together with Gwich’in speakers in the nineteenth century. Thirty-one participants from Yukon, NWT, and Alaska studied and retranscribed traditional Advent hymns and Anglican liturgy from Tukudh into modern Gwich’in. They practised and recorded a number of hymns and also discussed the origins of Gwich’in surnames, all under the guidance of elders and YNLC staff. Participants included retired native language instructor Helen Charlie from Old Crow, UAF Gwich'in instructor Allan Hayton from Fairbanks, and Hän elders Percy and Mabel Henry from Dawson. Many Teetl'it Gwich'in also attended, including sisters Joanne Snowshoe and Ruth Carroll, who provided valuable knowledge
Tukudh (Gwich'in) Literacy Session participants Garry Njootli, Elder Percy Henry from Dawson City, and UAF Gwich’in
Instructor Allan Hayton
September Tlingit Literacy Session Participants with Dr. Jeff Leer in the back row, centre.
YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 5
and assistance throughout. Darius Elias, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Vuntut Gwitchin, visited to make a brief presentation.
Hän Literacy Session
In early December, YNLC staff organized and led a workshop on Hän literacy. Twelve participants translated O Canada into Hän, reviewed the Hän alphabet, practised listening exercises for
consonants, and reviewed terms for family relations (which vary depending on the gender of the speaker/referent) under the guidance of elders and staff. Participants included Percy and Mabel Henry along with their daughter Mary Henry, Hän language instructor at Robert Service School in Dawson, and co-instructor Melissa Hawkins with her young son Jack. The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in FN was represented by Angie Joseph-Rear (Language Coordinator), Georgette McLeod (Heritage), and Erika Joseph-Scheffen.
YNLC PresentationsKohklux in CopenhagenIn July, staff linguist Doug Hitch attended the International
Conference on the History of Cartography in Copenhagen, Denmark, to present the findings of YNLC staff in interpreting the Kohklux map. This historically and culturally important map of southwest Yukon was drawn by a Tlingit chieftain in 1869. Linda Johnson, former Yukon Archivist, and John Cloud, from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, were also members of the Kohklux panel. Doug's talk, Deciphering the Geography and Language of Kohklux, showed the progress made by YNLC in finding the native Tlingit and Athapaskan place names hidden behind the map spellings. He also used sound files spoken by Yukon First Nations elders to illustrate points.
Hän Literacy Session Participants
YNLC linguist Doug Hitch with the Kohklux map
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Yukon College Women’s Studies Course
In October, Linda Harvey, Jo-Anne Johnson, and Anne Ranigler organized and presented a class session on YNLC activities, programs, and materials to Lynn Echevarria’s Women’s Studies course at Yukon College.
F.H. Collins Grade 12 Communication Studies
In November, André Bourcier was invited to make a presentation to the
Grade 12 Communications Studies class at F.H. Collins about language preservation and revitalization. The class included students of several language backgrounds. They read and discussed articles about Yukon aboriginal language revitalization.
First Nations Language Keepers ConferenceIn December, YNLC staff members Linda Harvey, Jo-Anne Johnson, Anne Ranigler,
and Josephine Holloway attended the 2009 First Nation Language Keepers Conference in Saskatoon. The theme of this year’s conference was new advances in knowledge about language revitalization and retention, as well as new technology and community language developments. Linda, Jo-Anne, and Anne presented a session on teaching methods and materials. Linda and Anne also taught a demonstration lesson in Southern Tutchone. Josephine hosted a YNLC materials display. The team approach to language preservation used by YNLC is a unique model and staff felt it was important to demonstrate this.
Upper Kuskokwim Web TrainingIn August, Teresa and Phylicia Hanson of Telida
Village, Alaska, who are working on Upper Kuskokwim language projects, came to YNLC for technical training. Doug Hitch provided instruction on recording and editing sound files, and on techniques for having sounds playable on web pages. The Hansons hope to emulate the Centre’s successful model for native language audio production.
Georgette McLeod reviews the Hän version of O Canada
Josephine Holloway at the YNLC Christmas lunch
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MLA Darius Elias’s Language MotionIn November, Darius Elias, MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin, introduced
a motion in the Yukon Legislature to establish an independent commission to make recommendations on aboriginal language protection in the Yukon. Both of the other northern territories are taking steps to provide such protection. Nunavut has just created the Inuit Language Protection Act, and the Northwest Terriories is in the process of revising its Official Languages Act. Mr. Elias's motion specifically refers to the involvement of YNLC in such language protection. YNLC's Linda Harvey and André Bourcier were interviewed on CBC North for background information on the motion.
“Travels to the Alseck”The manuscript of E.J. Glave’s writings edited by anthropologist
Dr. Julie Cruikshank is being prepared for publication in 2010. Edward James Glave was an English-born explorer and journalist whose reports and notebooks about his travels in southwest Yukon in 1890-1891 contain many references to native place names, personal names, and cultural practices. Dr. Cruikshank’s manuscript includes Glave’s newspaper articles and material from his unpublished field
journals (now kept at the University of Alaska Fairbanks). YNLC’s John Ritter and Doug Hitch are providing editorial support, working on Glave’s native language material and on the maps of the routes, and collecting additional images. The resulting book will be an important addition to the literature on Yukon First Nations geography, history, and culture.
New MaterialsO Canada CDLinda Harvey recorded Canada’s national anthem
on CD as a medley of English, French, and Southern Tutchone versions at the request of Porter Creek Secondary School in Whitehorse. YNLC's Doug Hitch recorded the song, and André Bourcier assisted with teaching the French version.
Tukudh DVDsContinuing interest in the Tukudh tradition, the
liturgical language of the Gwich'in people first written down by Archdeacon McDonald, has led to renewed need for material. The three videotapes of Tukudh services held at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church,
Southern Tutchone numerals from Glave’s journal. (University of
Alaska Fairbanks)
CAFN Elder Paddy Jim at YNLC
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Fairbanks, and Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican), Whitehorse, are now available on DVD.
Session Report ReprintsDue to high demand, various session reports including several Gwich'in/Tukudh session
reports have been reprinted.
Trappers GameThe popular Monopoly-style Trappers Game, in which players move around the
board naming animals, now has new game cards and lots of redesigned YNLC money available.
Publications CatalogueThe YNLC Publications Catalogue, listing all YNLC’s publications, is available free of
charge at our website: www.ynlc.ca. You can download a pdf version or use a printable order form.
Planning for Spring 2010The Yukon Native Language Centre and individual teachers are busy planning for the
spring session. Please contact YNLC for updates on scheduling.
How To Reach UsIf you would like more information on the Centre's programs, or would like to order our
publications, please consult our website at www.ynlc.ca, or contact us by:• local telephone at (867) 668-8820• toll-free 1-877-414-9652 • fax at (867) 668-8825• email at [email protected]• mail at Yukon Native Language Centre,
