Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI

A dictionary project is underway to revive and make language more accessible for Tahltans

Article from Terrace Standard | Binny Paul | Published May 6, 2022

The modern-day dictionary will include more than 10,000 words and will be available on an app.

A group of Tahltan Elders and linguists are working toward revitalizing and preserving their traditional language through a dictionary project.

The Tahltan Dictionary Project that began mid-March is aiming for a lexicon of 10,000 words and has collaborated with The Language Conservancy, a North American non-profit, who are providing the technology for this project. Once complete, the dictionary will also be available to download through a website and an app.

Tahltan Elders, Pat and Theresa Etzerza, who are working on the project in Dease Lake said it has been a fulfilling process for them to be able to build resources to help guide future generations of Tahltans living across the world.

“Our language identifies who we are as Tahltan people,” said Pat. “It just about got extinct but we are trying our best through technology to revive it.”

Pat recounted his own personal experience of reconnecting with his culture through language as a residential school survivor and said projects like these will better equip Tahltans living outside the First Nation’s territory in northwest B.C. to help them discover their own identities. “If we have the dictionary, there’s no excuse for individuals to not learn the language,” said Pat. “They are giving tools to Tahltans who wish to take the step to learn.”

Tahltan Central Government’s (TCG) language department has been working with Elders and fluent speakers in Iskut, Telegraph Creek and Dease Lake to collect words.

The project brought together younger generations as well as Tahltans spread across other countries to help build words, a scenario that Pat describes as a “true form of reconciliation.”

The team is building on an existing Tahltan children’s illustrated dictionary from the 1990s. They are also adapting to include new modern-day words, said Dhakāle (Hayle Gallup), from TCG’s language department.

This is done through a method called ‘rapid word collection’ where scenarios and subjects are played out for Elders who then come up with words to describe them.

“Our language didn’t get the opportunity to grow with the new world, it didn’t get the opportunity to transform or build on the vocabulary so we’re creating new words as we go,” said Dhakāle. The process has been challenging owing to historic setbacks faced by Indigenous people across Canada during the era of assimilation at residential schools when they were not allowed to speak and practice their first languages.

“We almost lost our language by not teaching it to our children,” said Theresa, adding that mentoring people as an Elder now is her way of ensuring there is a continuity process in reviving the language. “If we don’t practice it, we will lose it, we lose our identity,” she said.

Revitalizing the Tahltan language has been an ongoing program for several years in the communities and efforts have seen students who benefited from these programs come back to teach.

Outreach efforts also included setting up ‘language nests’, an immersive educative program for infants and children between the ages of zero and four. The dictionary will complement all these existing projects, the team said.

The team will be travelling to Terrace from May 16–20 for the next phase of the project to work with fluent language speakers who will be gathering in the city.

Membership & Genealogy

Director Report

Shannon Frank

Membership & Genealogy Director

Fellow Tahltans. A call out to update.

Is it easy to do? Yes, it is very easy to do and you can do it anytime by going to our website: www.tahltan.org

What do I need to do exactly? Simple. 1 . Go to the TCG website.

2 . At the top of the home page (upper right) click on Tahltan Membership. 3 . Scroll down to the Contact Update Form section and click on Contact Update Form. 4 . Fill out and click Submit.

How often should I update my information?

We need you to update your contact information regularly so we can keep you informed. We distribute updates not only regarding elections, but also with critical information for you and your family, such as Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) votes, employment and training opportunities, scholarships, education, and much more.

For additional information please contact:

Shannon Frank

Director of Membership & Genealogy membershipdirector@tahltan .org

Roxanne Ball

Membership Clerk roxanne .ball@tahltan .org

Are there any other reasons to update my information?

Yes! And this is especially true for: Teenagers and Young Adults – When registering children, parents use their own email addresses and phone numbers. As those children grow older and begin to think about future education and training opportunities, they need to update their email, phone number, and address to stay current and to receive information.

Married Recently/Name Change – If you have decided to change your legal name you must update your information and report your name change. Babies and Children – If you have a new baby, or if you have children that may or may not be registered, please complete and submit a new membership form on their behalf. This ensures their registration and their eligibility for TCG programming. Moved/Moving – If you have moved it is very important to update your information. Passings – It is important for our vital statics to be accurate. Please register the passing of any Tahltan members with us to guarantee our information is correct.

Transparency is very important to us. Therefore, please register and update your information regularly to stay current on all things affecting Tahltans.