Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
Sahtú Renewable Resources Board

Indigenous Language Revitalization

The University of Victoria offers certificate and Master’s programs in Indigenous Language Revitalization. One of these is a two week certificate program offered in Yellowknife through a partnership with the Government of the NWT, and the En'owkin Centre in Penticton, British Columbia.

The University of Alberta also offers a certificate in Indigenous Languages through the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute

These programs aim to support a generation of language experts who will have the language and academic skills to participate and lead successful language revitalization efforts in Indigenous communities. The graduate programs also serve to develop language scholars who will have the expertise to support post-secondary instruction in the revitalization, recovery and maintenance of Indigenous languages.

2024-2025 Scholarship

Andrew Speakman 

AS photoAndrew Speakman was raised in Délı̨nę and spent time in Yellowknife afterwards. He has a degree in math and physics, with a minor in religion. After three years of working in the statistics field, it's time to refocus on computational linguistics. How can computers help Dene Kede grow and thrive? Andrew enjoys politics, the concept of Denendeh, soccer, minimalism, and boiled eggs.

 

 

 

 

Jennie Vandermeer

JennieVandermeerJennie Vandermeer is Sahtúgot'ı̨nę (person from Great Bear Lake) and grew up in Délı̨nę, Northwest Territories (NWT). She is pursuing a Master's degree in Indigenous Language Revitalization from the University of Victoria. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Royal Roads University. She has a lot of experience working with communities across the NWT on water quality, environmental assessment, forestry and protected areas. She has worked with the department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories, in a variety of roles, including as Environmental Impact Advisor, Watershed Management Advisor and Coordinator of NWT Protected Area Strategy. Jennie is also an entrepreneur, having started a successful wellness business and more recently a tourism business with her partner.