The following video documentation project and respective videos were made possible through funding from the National Research Council Canada.
The project, completed by the Yukon Native Language Centre, was created to support community-based language workers throughout the Yukon Territory in applying current best practices in language documentation to create, annotate, share, and preserve high-quality digital video recordings of Yukon First Nations speaking in their Indigenous languages. By providing funding, training, and support for trainees in each of the 14 Yukon First Nations, this project contributed to increased local capacity for the use of technology in language documentation activities throughout the Yukon, while developing a library of new digital resources for language education, revitalization, and promotion involving all Yukon First Nations languages.
Given the rapid decline of fluent speakers there is increased interest among Yukon First Nations in using digital technologies to develop new learning resources. As an Indigenous organization with a mandate to support all of these critically endangered and under documented languages, the Yukon Native Language Centre (YNLC) supported trainees from all 14 Yukon First Nations in a 10-month program to acquire practical skills in developing, disseminating, and preserving digital language materials in their home communities.
Click on a First Nation below to view the videos:
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations