ACTIVITIES REPORT — JULY 2011 COVERING THE PERIOD JANUARY–JUNE 2011 2011 Graduation Yukon College graduation on Saturday, June 4, was an inspiring and hugely-attended event recognizing students who completed courses in nearly every program area of the College. YNLC's Linda Harvey and Gwich'in Elder Ruth Welsh were on stage to present Certificates to Jocelyn Skookum and Alma Wrixon, our 2011 graduates. Both are Northern Tutchone instructors from the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation in Carmacks, Yukon. They worked hard over several years to accomplish their educational goals, Alma teaching Northern Tutchone in Tantalus School and Jocelyn teaching separate classes for adults and small children in the First Nation's community-based language program. Both ladies acknowledge the linguistic, cultural, and personal support they have received along the way from their mentors, especially Agnes Charlie, Evelyn Skookum, May Roberts, and Grace Wheeler. These fluent speakers have been outstanding 2011 Graduates Alma Wrixon and Jocelyn Skookum with YNLC staff Anne Ranigler, Jo-Anne Johnson, Linda Harvey, André Bourcier and Elder Ruth Welsh YNLC Activities Report, January - June, 2011 1 advocates for the Northern Tutchone language in Carmacks for many years. YNLC is proud of this year's graduates and thanks them for their great dedication to teaching the Northern Tutchone language. Dr. André Bourcier We are also proud to announce that our colleague André Bourcier successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Université Laval on June 21, 2011. The Quebec City event was broadcast via video-conference so that one committee member could participate from Fairbanks, Alaska, and André's family and friends could observe the proceedings Dr. André Bourcier via a feed at Yukon College. His thesis is entitled Essai d'analyse de trois langues polysynthétiques (Analytical Study of Three Polysynthetic Languages). It examines linguistic phenomena in three languages belonging to genetically unrelated families (Eskimo-Aleut, Algonquian, and Athabaskan). Two substantial chapters are devoted to Gwich'in verb morphology and based on research undertaken at YNLC with Gwich'in Specialist Mary Jane Kunnizzi and Director John Ritter. In addition to its scholarly value, André's work will continue to inform and enhance the training offered at YNLC. We congratulate him on this outstanding achievement. Winter and Spring at YNLC While the cold and snow seemed at times unrelenting, they did not diminish the flow of activities at YNLC during the winter and spring. A series of literacy and in-service sessions kept the Centre busy from February through May, with one group after another coming together to share their languages and develop specific teaching materials and practice new teaching methods. As well, the Centre staff worked on language projects, made visits to school and First Nation language programs, made presentations at conferences, and assisted other Yukon College programs. Students and visitors arrived regularly with language requests and queries for information. It was a busy and productive period for YNLC staff and all those taking part in YNLC activities. Tlingit trainee Gary Johnson with Elder Norman James at the Tlingit Literacy session YNLC Activities Report, January - June, 2011 2 Visit of the Governor General In February Yukon College was honored with a visit by the Their Excellencies the Right Honorable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and his wife Mrs. Sharon Johnston. Mrs. Johnston specifically requested a visit to YNLC and expressed considerable interest in the native languages of Yukon and the work of YNLC. YNLC's Linda Harvey provided Josephine Holloway shows YNLC materials to Her Excellency a traditional Southern Tutchone Mrs. Sharon Johnston at YNLC Welcome Song for Their Excellencies during the introduction of the Governor General's address to the College community. He commended the College for fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of native cultures. Linda was accompanied in her performance by visiting Alaskan Elder Lena Charley and three of Lena's granddaughters, a fitting international welcome for the distinguished visitors to Yukon College. Teacher Training Thirteen Certificate and Diploma trainees attended the five-day March training session at YNLC. Founding Elder Margaret Workman participated as the Southern Tutchone language model. For the Northern Tutchone language, Founding Elder Gertie Tom attended along with fluent elders Agnes Charlie and Evelyn Skookum from Carmacks and Tantalus School teacher Grace Wheeler. YNLC presented material on language structure, teaching techniques, and professionalism. Participants witnessed elementary- and secondary-level demonstration lessons, shared teaching ideas, and role-played classroom situations. Topics discussed included the roles of the Yukon Teachers Association and Yukon College, classroom organization, lesson planning, and instructors’ reports. A highlight of the training session was a visit to the McBride Museum to view the Participants at the Certificate / Diploma Training Session displays of cultural materials and wildlife. outside McBride Museum YNLC Activities Report, January - June, 2011 3 The visit was preceded and followed by discussion of the preparations and organization needed for successful school field trips. The final day of the session was devoted, as always, to the presentation of demonstration lessons by the participants themselves, who enjoyed the opportunity to both teach and serve as students for their fellow-trainees. Retiring Native Language Instructors Josephine Acklack, a fluent Kaska speaker who has taught at Ross River School since 1987, retired earlier this year. Also retiring more recently is Alyce Joe, who has served faithfully since 1988 at the Eliza Van Bibber School in Pelly Crossing. We thank these teachers for their long years of service and wish them health and happiness in their new lives. Language Training and Documentation Sessions Ahtna Recording Sessions YNLC hosted two recording sessions with fluent Ahtna elders Lena Charley from Chistochina, Alaska, who came to record in February, and Phillip Sabon from Copper Center, Alaska, who was with us in April. Their visits were arranged by consultant Dr. Cynthea Ainsworth and Ms. Susan Voyles of the Ahtna Heritage Ahtna Elder Lena Charley Foundation. The speakers are recording basic language lessons aimed at the preschool level, based on the YNLC Curriculum Guide, Teaching Yukon Native Languages. Their current project is one of a series of efforts to revitalize the use of Ahtna in Eastern Alaska. Ahtna is an Athabaskan language closely related to Yukon languages, and two Ahtna language teachers, Jessica Denny and Honalee Sanford, have completed the Certificate Course at YNLC. Elder Lena Charley is the author of a series of Ahtna materials posted on www.ynlc.ca and also created the beautiful beaded Debae Tse' (Ram's Head) artwork which graces a Centre wall. Tlingit Literacy Session In February a group of sixteen people attended the Tlingit Literacy Session led by Dr. Jeff Leer of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Fluent elders Sam Johnston and Norman James provided essential linguistic and cultural support for the session. Participants reviewed and practiced all the basic sounds of Tlingit, noting especially the differences in Tlingit dialects and in Coastal and Interior Tlingit writing systems. Ahtna Elder Phillip Sabon recording at YNLC, accompanied by Susan Voyles, Amanda Maxim and Dr. Cynthea Ainsworth (standing) YNLC Activities Report, January - June, 2011 4 Additional topics included songs (traditional and modern), greetings, emotions, possessed body parts, weather, and translations requested by participants. A visit by Tlingit elder Martha Van Heel was greatly appreciated by everyone. Martha explained the background of a traditional song, speaking entirely in the Tlingit language and providing the class a wonderful opportunity to hear the language in one continuous flow of narration by an expert speaker. Gunałchîsh! Tlingit teacher Louise Parker and Elder Norman James with YNLC's Linda Harvey at the Training Session Gwich'in Literacy Session During February 22-24, YNLC conducted a Gwich'in language session devoted specifically to geographical names and related topics such as riverine directionals, Gwich'in dialect variations, and ethnographic documentation by previous and current researchers. YNLC Director John Ritter's place-names work with the Gwich'in in the 1970s and 1980s provided useful background for the session. Elder Ruth Welsh provided valuable information and translations. Participants worked intensively through a subset of the vast compilation of place-names collected by the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute based in the Northwest Territories. YNLC's André Bourcier provided transcriptional and analytical assistance throughout the session. GSCI Research Director Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Heritage Researcher Alestine André, and GSCI consultant Gwich'in Participants Peter Loovers, André Bourcier, Ruth Welsh, Peter Loovers John Ritter, Ingrid Kritsch, Alestine André presented an overview of their place-names project which aims at providing a thorough documentation of Gwich'in traditional lands, including major river drainages (the Blackstone, Hart, Wind, Bonnet Plume, and Arctic Red Rivers) with headwaters in the Yukon Territory. Those working on the project noted their hope that the research results will be incorporated into school-based curricular materials