Fonts & Keyboards

How to install a specialized keyboard layout for Windows or Macintosh to easily type Yukon Native languages

To type in Yukon First Nation languages, you need to install a special Keyboard to type the diacritics.


Windows PC Instructions

Click here to Print these instructions.

How to Install First Voices Keyboard on a Windows (PC) Computer:

  1. Click on this link to download this file to your ’Downloads’ folder’
    The link will save an .exe file to your Downloads folder
  2. Once the file is downloaded, click on the file name ‘firstvoices-9.0.0-yukon7.exe‘ in your web browser pop up (or open from your Downloads folder).
  3. A popup window will appear on your screen.
    Click on ‘Yes’ button.
  4. Keyman Window will open. Click on ‘Install Keyman Desktop’.
  5. Keyman Desktop will open.
  6. You can uncheck the box ‘Show this screen every time Keyman for FirstVoices starts’.
  7. Click on ‘Start Keyman for FirstVoices’ button
  8. A virtual Keyboard will appear on your screen. Click on the X button to hide it.
  9. Click on ‘Don’t show this hint again’, Click on ‘OK’ button.
  10. You may have to Restart your Computer after installing the Keyman keyboard.
    If it does not show up in your Keyboard list, restart your computer.

Using the Windows Keyboard

There are two ways to change (toggle) between your English and FirstVoices Keyboards:

1 – Click on the Keyboard Input option, ‘ENG US’ or ‘ENG CAD’ next to the Time and Date in your Taskbar to see the list of your installed keyboards.

Click on English (Canada) FV Yukon 7


2 – Click on the Windows key (bottom left beside ‘Ctrl’ key) and the Space Bar to bring up your Keyboards. Keep holding the Windows key and press the space bar to move between the keyboards.

The highlighted Keyboard is the one you are using.

Once you have selected your language keyboard, use the Keyboard cheat sheets below to type the diacritics.


Using FirstVoices for Windows

Quick Test

  1. Open a text editor such as MS Word or Notepad.
  2. Type /(slash) then letter a, you should see á (a-acute).
  3. Your FirstVoices keyboard is working.

Keyboard Layout – PDF cheat sheet for Windows and Mac

This document contains all the key strokes to type diacritics for all 8 Yukon First Nation languages:


Mac Apple iOS Instructions

Mac iOS – Keyboard Apps for iPhone and iPad

FirstVoices Keyboards

Chert – Alaska’s Native Language Keyboar‪d


Mac – How to Install First Voices Keyboard on a Mac Computer

Click here to Print these Instructions

  1. Click on this link to download this file to your downloads folder
  2. Open ‘Finder’
  3. Select ’Downloads’ folder
  4. Copy the following file:
    fvyukon.keylayoutʼ – Right click and select ’Copy’
  5. Click on ‘Go’ in the top ́’Finder’ menu
  6. Then, Click on ‘Go to Folder…’
  7. Enter:       ~/Library/Keyboard Layouts/
  8. Click on ‘Go’ button
    The Keyboard Layout Folder will open
  9. Right click and select ’Paste’ the Keyboard file into the folder
  10. Then, Open System Preferences >Language and Region.
  11. Click the Keyboard Preferences button at the bottom.
  12. Click the Input Sources tab at the top.
  13. Click the + (plus) sign at the bottom left to ‘add a keyboard layout’.
  14. Select Others in the left-side pane, this should display a list of keyboard layouts which includes the one you are looking to activate. Select the keyboard you want and click add ‘FV Yukon’.
  15. The keyboard is now ready to use.
  16. To access the key layout, you need to go between Canadian and FV Yukon keyboards.
    Click on the Canadian flag at the top of your screen.
    Select the keyboard layout ʼFV Yukonʼ from the list.

Quick Test:

  1. Start Pages, Word or a text editor document.
  2. Click on the Input Menu icon (the little keyboard or flag) in the upper-right corner of the screen and select FV Yukon from the list that is displayed.
  3. Open a text editor such as Pages or MS Word.
  4. Type a / (slash) and a – you should see á
  5. Type a , (comma) then a and you should see ą

Keyboard Layout – PDF cheat sheet for Windows and Mac

This document contains all the key strokes to type diacritics for all 8 Yukon First Nation languages: