'We need it back in our community': Yukon First Nation starts language immersion program

Some Kwanlin Dün First Nation citizens are learning to speak Southern Tutchone for the first time. 

They are participating in a new Southern Tutchone Language Revitalization Program facilitated by Kwanlin Dün First Nation in partnership with the Yukon Native Language Centre and Simon Fraser University. The program is meant to encourage citizens to speak and share Southern Tutchone with their community. 

"I've always wanted to take language but I thought I was too old for it," said Ron Thompson, one of the students in the program.

"I have nieces and nephews and if they actually see that it's changed me and the positive outlook on all of it, they will hopefully one day say, 'I want to be like Uncle Ron.'"

Chief Sean Smith says the community has lost many of its Southern Tutchone speakers, and this program is a way of bringing the language back.

"We did have more speakers 20 plus years ago, but now we've lost a number of our Elders that were fluently speaking, which creates concerns," Smith said. "Using the immersion method of instruction to really promote that and use our language is really great, but it also encourages an understanding of that First Nation worldview."

The program includes nine university courses taught by instructors at the Yukon Native Language Centre.

It started in January with a four week immersion course, where students were immersed in the language for up to six hours a day. Now, students are also learning to read and write in Southern Tutchone. The program also includes two on-the-land camps where students will participate in cultural activities while speaking in Southern Tutchone.

Students hope to become teachers

Kiana Blake is just 19 years old. She says she is participating in the program so she can teach her language to others in the community, like her her family and friends.

"It's just a way our community can connect together, same with my family and friends," Blake said.

"I'm proud to be where I'm from, and how I'm able to hold conversations now and speak my ancestors' language."

Blake is not only speaking the language outside of the classroom, she is also sharing it on social media. Over the past few weeks, she has been posting videos to TikTok where she shares the words she's learned in Southern Tutchone.

"I have a lot of fun making them and being able to put that out there in the world," Blake said.

Students in the course will receive a Certificate of Language Proficiency from Simon Fraser University when they complete the program in June. Many of the students in the program have already put their names forward to teach future courses through the Yukon Native Language Centre after they complete the program.

Alisha Malcolm says her grandmother used to speak to her in Southern Tutchone, but she lost the language when she was only five-years-old. Now, after losing her grandmother, she's relearning the language again in her forties. 

"I think her, my aunties, my uncles, the ones who have all passed away, they would be very proud of me, I say. And right now I can feel it in my body that they're with me and it makes me happy."

Malcolm says she hopes she will be able to speak Southern Tutchone with her daughter, who is learning the language at daycare. She plans to teach the language to her own children and others one day.

"It's really nice that I can work with my daughter and get to speak with her," Malcolm said. "Plus I get to teach it. My goals are to work with the community. We need it back in our community."