1. Dehcho First Nations Mentor-Apprentice Program
Presented by Violet Jumbo, Language Manager
Fort Simpson, NT

2. Background
Dehcho Dene zhatié survey ‘Bringing the Dene Zhatié Home’ for all communities in August 2001;
Acho Dene Koe, Deh Gáh Got’ie Køç, Tthets’ehk’edélî, K’atl’odeeche, K’ágee Tu, Åíídlîî Køç, Nahæâ Dehé, Pehdzeh Ki, Sambaa K’e, Ts’u Ehda
Elders feel Dene zhatié is declining among the youth and young adults
Dehcho First Nations took the initiative to revitalize Dene zhatié
Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization
Mentor-Apprentice Program

3. Purpose To preserve, and promote Dene zhatié in the Region
To revitalize Dene zhatié in the Dehcho Region
Advance proficiency among young adult language apprentices through language learning over time with Dene zhatié mentors

4. Dehcho First Nations undertook the Mentor-Apprentice Program in April 2018 with 10 pairs (Mentor and Apprentice)

5. Goal
To facilitate the development of fluent Dehcho Dene zhatié speakers
More young adult fluent speakers
To engage in conversations with Elders

6. How
Fluent speakers are partnered with committed learners in an immersion environment in a home or on the land
It is a one-on-one immersion program
‘Mentor is paired with an ‘apprentice’

7. Mentor and apprentice spend time together doing everyday activities using Dene zhatié at all times
The apprentices will improve fluency in Dene zhatié
This will encourage other Dene zhatié learners by creating a ripple effect

8. The group began with an orientation prior to starting the program.

9. The MAP team worked on individual work plans and set goals.

10. Who can enroll? Dehcho First Nations members
Members that expressed interest in learning to speak Dene zhatié
Members that are;
Low-intermediate (has little to no language knowledge)
Mid-intermediate (can understand more than can speak)
Mid-intermediate (has some language knowledge)

11. The Program MAP team started after group orientation Self-regulated
The goal is to complete 300 hrs by March 2019
Report after 50 hours
Evaluation done after 100 hours to measure progress
Check-in to report on how much time they spent on language with activities

12. Completion of MAP
Once the MAP is completed the participants will do a report and an evaluation
Successes and challenges
Level of speaking Dene Zhatié
Effectiveness
Mentor Dene zhatié teachers interviewed once at the beginning and at the end with apprentice
Next Step