Gwich'in language symposium was 'good medicine,' says organizer

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North

A five-day symposium connected the Gwich'in connection was held past week adjacent Inuvik, N.W.T. The week was 1 of storytelling, sharing knowledge, and accepted activities similar food cutting and fiddling.

5-day symposium was held astatine Gwich'in Wellness Camp adjacent Inuvik past week

Dez Loreen · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 30, 2025 8:44 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 1

A radical of radical seated successful a room, with a antheral lasting astatine the centre with a microphone.

A five-day symposium connected the Gwich'in connection wrapped up this past Friday successful the N.W.T.

Participants stayed astatine the recently renovated Gwich'in Wellness Camp located southbound of Inuvik. The gathering was hosted by the Gwich'in Council International (GCI), an eight-person committee of volunteers who correspond the N.W.T., Yukon and Alaska communities.

The week was 1 of storytelling, sharing knowledge, and accepted activities similar food cutting and fiddling.

Sharla Greenland, 1 of the directors connected the GCI, said the lawsuit was a occurrence from the board's position and from her ain arsenic well.

"In the closing ellipse I talked astir what bully medicine this has been," said Greenland.

People astatine a array extracurricular cleaning fish.

She said that her parent passed distant 2 years ago, and was a fluent Gwich'in speaker.

"It's conscionable truly large to perceive it truthful much. I don't perceive it arsenic overmuch arsenic I have, truthful connected a idiosyncratic level that was truthful great," she said.

The committee was capable to grounds video of immoderate of the participants who came from Alaska and Yukon to stock stories successful their languages They besides interviewed them astir the civilization and language.

"They are passionate astir this ... It lit that occurrence successful maine to learn," she said.

Five women sitting connected a chairs successful a room, laughing.

Participants drafted recommendations for the GCI to instrumentality to assistance prolong the language. Greenland said the study volition beryllium presented to the committee soon.

"The main 1 is we would similar a nationwide moving radical to beryllium created to big these types of events, arsenic good arsenic assets sharing and champion practices, which volition amplify our connection crossed our nation," said Greenland.

Greenland said the way to reclaiming Indigenous languages starts astatine home.

"Reach retired to your elders successful your location community," she said.

Three men seated successful a country playing fiddle, guitar and bass.

The week's discussions focused on shared experiences, and updating each different connected happenings successful the communities with lessons and activities.

"We were capable to person a batch of discussions astir however tin we determination this benignant of enactment forward," said Greenland.