An initiative rooted in transmission

During National Indigenous History Month, Collège Nordique is highlighting ten years of collaboration, transmission, and learning through its Tłı̨chǫ yatıì classes.

For the past decade, these classes have been grounded in relationships, respect for knowledge, and the promotion of Northern Indigenous languages. Far more than a language learning opportunity, they are part of a broader movement to support the vitality of Indigenous languages and create spaces where they can be lived, shared, and passed on.

Over the years, this initiative has grown organically through meaningful collaborations with instructors, Elders, members of Tłı̨chǫ communities, and several partners committed to linguistic and cultural transmission. These partners include the Tłı̨chǫ Government, Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1), Yellowknife Catholic Schools (YCS), Bushkids, and Hotıì ts’eeda.

An offering that evolved alongside communities

The initiative has also evolved to meet the growing needs of learners and communities. What began as a language course offering gradually expanded to include four different learning levels, a reading and writing course, land-based classes, and immersion experiences developed in partnership with the Tłı̨chǫ Government.

This evolution has largely been shaped by a pedagogical approach sensitive to Northern and multilingual realities. Collège Nordique has helped create learning environments where language is approached as a way of understanding the world, rather than simply as a communication tool.

Meaningful journeys through language

The experiences shared by learners and instructors clearly demonstrate this impact.

Juliana Weidman, a beginner-level learner, describes the deeply personal dimension of language learning:

“I love these Tłı̨chǫ classes because they have helped me connect with my culture and my family. Language is more than just words. Language is connected to the way that my mother thinks, her perspective, and her insight on her feelings. When she says, "Behchokǫ̀ gots'ǫ aht'e," she is not only saying that she is from Behchokǫ̀, she is also sharing that it is where she belongs. Taking this class helped me have a deeper understanding of Tłı̨chǫ words that go beyond English translations. Knowing and learning the language is helping me know her heart and understand her thoughts. Masìcho.”

Cecilia Wood, a Tłı̨chǫ yatıı̀ instructor, also highlights the impact of the program on intergenerational knowledge transmission and teaching development:

“It has been excellent working with Collège Nordique. I have more understanding on how to teach, and am beginning to know more about using the computer. I speak in the language more and help others to speak as well. With Rosie, I’ve learned more about how to explain the structure of Tłı̨chǫ yatıı̀ to teach others. It was nice when Jo Beaverho and Mike Nitsiza told me that I speak well and that I’m following in my father’s footsteps, first as an interpreter and now as a teacher. Mike said, “Netà etaehtııdeè ı̨lè… Wetł’a lànı̀ wela eghàlaı̨da eyıts'ıhɂǫ̀ sı̨nàà… sı̨nı̀ nàtso eyıt’à segha nezı̨.””

Additional testimonials also highlight the importance of these classes in strengthening community and intergenerational connections.

Mike Dove, a learner, also emphasized the human and pedagogical impact of the experience:

“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the past two years of learning with you. Taking Tłı̨chǫ classes with you has been such a meaningful experience, and I’m truly grateful for the time, effort, and passion you’ve poured into teaching. It’s been a joy not only to learn the language, but also to watch you grow professionally along the way. Your confidence, creativity, and skill as a teacher have continued to sharpen, and it really shows in the way you lead your classes. You have a unique gift for teaching language in a way that makes it approachable and engaging for everyone. No matter where someone starts, you create an environment where people feel comfortable learning, trying, and growing, and that’s something special. Thank you for your dedication, your patience, and for sharing both the language and its meaning with us. You’ve made a lasting impact, and I’m grateful to be one of your students.”

Contributing to the vitality of Northern languages

These experiences reflect an impact that extends far beyond the classroom. Learning and teaching Tłı̨chǫ yatıì also strengthens family connections, supports linguistic confidence, and contributes to the continuity of knowledge.

This initiative is part of a broader vision supported by Collège Nordique, particularly highlighted during the Forum international sur la préservation et la promotion des langues autochtones et minoritaires du Nord. The gathering reinforced a shared understanding: preserving languages requires concrete, community-rooted action and long-term collaboration between the people who carry them forward.

In this context, Tłı̨chǫ yatıì classes represent a meaningful contribution to this collective effort. They demonstrate how a postsecondary institution can act as a facilitator by creating bridges between knowledge systems, generations, and cultures.

As National Indigenous History Month begins, this anniversary also serves as a reminder of the importance of continuing to support Indigenous languages, the people who teach them, and the communities that carry them. Every space dedicated to transmission helps keep these languages alive in the present while ensuring their place in the future.

Published on June 22th 2026