The GNWT is once again offering a special apprentice program to help teach the many different languages of the Territory to new generations.
This Mentor-Apprentice Program consists of students working closely with a teacher who is fluent in the language they wish to learn. The pair will take on everyday activities and go through them while only speaking in the selected language. The goal is to help the students along in this education by living life in the language.
The Mentor and Apprentice are required to spend approximately five to seven hours together per week for the duration of the program. The Program requires 200 hours of training for completion which equals around nine months. The training will be launched in May.
This program is open to the public, regardless of their previous knowledge or current language skills. Pairs will be paid for their time in training, with funding coming from both the GNWT and local Indigenous governments.
The languages being offered for this program are:
- Dene Kǝdǝ́
- Dëne Sųłıné
- Dene Zhatıé
- Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik
- Inuinnaqtun
- Inuvialuktun
- nēhiyawēwin
- Tłı̨chǫ
Applications can be filled out at https://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/en/MAP.
