Tlingit language course connects Yukon and Alaska communities

Tlingitlearners from Yukonand Alaska have wrapped up a three-week intensive course in the language.

This was the first time a Tlingit session had been brought to severalcommunities, with classes held in Whitehorse, Teslin and Carcross. The initiative was organised by the Yukon Native Language Centre (YNLC).

Duane Gastant' Aucoin isexecutive councillor for the TeslinTlingit Council and participated in the class. He saidlanguage preservation "can't be done in isolation."

"We're so lucky inTeslinto have the highest ratio of birth speakers within anyTlingitcommunity," he said. "We have to share our wonderful birth speakers to help others out there."

YNLCdirectorTina Skyda. Jules said it wasalso the first time a Tlingit class hadbeen taught at abeginner, intermediate and advancedlevel to help advance adult learners.

The centre has made a 2018-2021 strategic plantorevitalize Indigenouslanguages by expanding teaching out of Whitehorse.

"Language is going to be revitalized and come to life in our communities, not at the Language Centre," Julessaid.

She said all parties shared costs, resources and responsibilities of hosting the course.

'It's a wonderful thing'

Bessie KyishCooley has been a Tlingit teacher and translator for many years.

"Sometimes you have to dig deep to remember the words they're asking you," she said ofteaching adults. "It's just great being able to speak."

JaneChukateen Smarchis anotherTlingit teacher, from Teslin.

"It's a wonderful thing to be able to teach adults and not so many children all the time," she said with a laugh. "It's just amazing to see how far and how fast they can learn."

Charles Katinish.wh Julessaid itwas his first formal language class.

"I never would have imagined I would have learned so much in such a short time," he said. "I say 'so much' it's really just the tip of the iceberg."

'Anyone can learn our language'

The class also included speakers from Alaska. The teacher, Lance Xh'uneiTwitchell, is a professorat the University of Alaska.

Participant Devlin ShaaaweshAnderstromis from the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe. He began to learn the language at a young age from his grandparents.

"One of the main things that I had to face early on is,it's almost like pain, I guess because you have to face the fact that you don't know how to think in the Tlingit language at first," he said.

Anderstromlived home afterhigh schoolto learn Tlingit from his grandmother. Two years after he graduated, his grandmother died.

"I think anyone can learn our language... Because it was really just in the span of a few years that my gran was able to teach me," he said.

Jules said the students and teachershave asked to do this kind of class more often. Some also said they would like to do the classes on the land.

"The idea is to expand on what we're doing so that it's not just an event," she said."Rather, it becomes a process."