YNLC Activities Re p o r t Co v e r i n g t h e Pe r i o d Ju ly – De c e m b e r 2009

Highlights YNLC moved into summer activities following 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 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 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 and Mendenhall River area.

Looking north at Na/khu\ç, traditional rafting-across point on Kusawa Lake. The name for the lake, Na/khu\ç MaÜn, comes from this feature.

YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 1 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 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 alive. The Emma Sam holds her Literacy Award 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 and continues to pass her cultural traditions on to her children and grandchildren. Linda Harvey and Mary-Jane Allison

YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 2 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 Kaska Instructor Nancy Sterriah leads a language game Jo-Anne Johnson visited the school to review lesson plans, curriculum guide, and materials with her.

Teacher Training Certificate 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 CYFN’s Gwich’in Instructor Gertie Tom and Margaret Workman also participated Linda Netro-Hendrie and Linda Harvey in the session.

CYFN Language Instructor Session This 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 Sessions Tlingit Literacy Session In September, YNLC sponsored a visit to YNLC’s Gertie Tom and Jo-Anne Johnson YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 3 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 . 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 September Tlingit Literacy Session Participants with Carcross instructor Mamie Smith Dr. Jeff Leer in the back row, centre. 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 Tukudh (Gwich'in) Literacy Session participants Garry Njootli, session on Tukudh, the older form of Elder Percy Henry from Dawson City, and UAF Gwich’in the Gwich’in language developed by Instructor Allan Hayton 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 YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 4 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 into Hän, reviewed the Hän Hän Literacy Session Participants 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 Presentations Kohklux in Copenhagen In 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.

YNLC linguist Doug Hitch with the Kohklux map YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 5 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 Georgette McLeod reviews the Hän version of O Canada 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 Conference In 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 Training In 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. Josephine Holloway at the YNLC Christmas lunch YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 6 MLA Darius Elias’s Language Motion In 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 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. Southern Tutchone Edward James Glave was an English-born explorer and journalist numerals from Glave’s whose reports and notebooks about his travels in southwest Yukon in journal. (University of Alaska Fairbanks) 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 Materials O Canada CD Linda 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 DVDs Continuing 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, CAFN Elder Paddy Jim at YNLC

YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 7 Fairbanks, and Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican), Whitehorse, are now available on DVD.

Session Report Reprints Due to high demand, various session reports including several Gwich'in/Tukudh session reports have been reprinted.

Trappers Game The 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 Catalogue The 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 2010 The Yukon Native Language Centre and individual teachers are busy planning for the spring session. Please contact YNLC for updates on scheduling.

How To Reach Us If 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, Yukon College, Box 2799, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 5K4.

YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 8 Yukon Photographer Wayne Towriss and Sheila Maissan identifying place name images

Celebrating Betty Sjodin’s birthday in November

André Bourcier and Linda Harvey enjoying a moment during a training session

Allan Hayton and Ruth Carroll at the board at the Tukudh (Gwich’in) Literacy Session

YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 9 YNLC Training Sessions Tlingit Literacy Session Classroom Literacy Sept 9-11 Certificate ¶ Diploma Course Teacher Training Sept 21-25 Gwich&in Literacy and Grammar YNLC Training Oct 14-16 CYFN Instructors Session Teacher Training Oct 22 Gwich&in Literacy Session Classroom Literacy Nov 24-26 Ha/n Literacy Session Classroom Literacy Dec 1-3

Program Consultations Johnson Elementary School visit Kaska Program Oct 14-16 CAFN Community Program, Haines S. Tutchone Program Nov 11 Junction St. Elias Community School Visit S. Tutchone Program Nov 11 Kluane Lake School Visit S. Tutchone Program Nov 13 Tantalus School visit N. Tutchone Program Nov 16 LSCFN Community Program, N. Tutchone Program Nov 17 Carmacks

YNLC Presentations International Map Conference, Kohklux Map July 12-17 Copenhagen, Denmark Presentation CYFN Self Governing Secretariat YNLC Participation Oct 8 meeting Women&s Studies, Yukon College YNLC Presentation Oct 13 Heritage Conference YNLC Presentation Oct 23 CYFN Self Governing Secretariat YNLC Participation Nov 10 meeting F.H. Collins Communications 12 YNLC Presentation Nov 13 Language Keepers Conference, YNLC Presentation Dec 8-9 Saskatoon

YNLC Activities Report, July - December, 2009 10