This evaluation of Language Nests in the Northwest Territories is a detailed overview of the Indigenous language immersion programs that were folded into pre-existing licensed day cares and Head Start facilities beginning in 2003. The evaluation process had two steps: first, a workshop with language nest staff from all 18 nest sites (which included at least one from representative from each NWT language region). This was meant to introduce the staff to the purpose of evaluation and incorporate their feedback into the evaluation framework, which covered both process/program delivery and outcome/language acquisition.

The authors identify numerous strengths of the language nest program, primarily surrounding increased awareness of language and culture for participants and communities, willingness to pursue learning, and intergenerational transmission. Children, parents, elders, staff, and communities interacted positively and productively with the language nest program. The programs also encountered challenges, namely: a lack of central administrative support, staffing and turnover, unavailability of training, no core or multi-year funding, incomplete immersion, no curriculum, parental concerns about bilingualism confusing their children, and no evaluative standards. The Language Nest evaluation made numerous recommendations to help mitigate these concerns. At least two nests existed in the Sahtú region, including one in Délı̨nę and one in Fort Good Hope.

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Hume, Sharon, Deborah Rutman, and Carol Hubberstey. Language Nest Evaluation Report. Department of Education, Culture and Employment: Yellowknife, 2006.