WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Native Language Centre recently honoured students who completed the Youth Today: Language Leaders Tomorrow language immersion program.
The two-year program aimed at developing language proficiency among Yukon First Nation youth and produced 11 graduates. Funding for the program provided wages for the youth over the course of the program. This enabled them to study their Yukon First Nation language full time, addressing a common barrier for language immersion programs.
The Youth of Today: Language Leaders Tomorrow program was funded and supported by Yukon First Nations including Teslin Tlingit Council, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and Kwänlin Dun First Nation, along with the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate, and the Government of Canada.
The program’s objectives included supporting the youth to develop language proficiency and empowering them to become language champions to carry their language into the future. The students began the program as beginners and are now intermediate-advanced level speakers in either Łingít (Tlingit) or Dákwänje (Southern Tutchone).
A program evaluation is underway along with funding applications to support a second offering of the program in fall 2024.
Quotes:
This initiative has not only produced highly competent language speakers but has also nurtured the leadership potential of our youth to spearhead language revitalization efforts in their home communities in the years ahead. It has been a great pleasure to observe the transformative power of language revitalization in action.
– CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston
Aatlein gunalchéesh chʼa ldakát ḵaa haa eet yidasheeyí! A huge thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us throughout our language journeys. Ḵúnáx̱ yee eede shtóog̱aa x̱at ditee, I am really so grateful to them all. I want to especially recognize and hold up my elders, teachers, family, and friends – I could not have gotten to where I am today without their guidance, knowledge and unwavering support. Ax̱ téix̱ʼ xʼéig̱aa shaawahík yeedát. Gunalchéesh, gunalchéesh, gunalchéesh.
– Chʼáak Yádi Abigail Turner, Program Graduate
The Kwä̀dąy Dän Tän Yíx Yaa Yana.at Aa “We walk the path of our Ancestors” Cohort and 2024 Graduates of the Youth Today: Language Leaders Tomorrow Program:
| Name | Language | Yukon First Nation |
| Tagàyä́tä̀y Dustin Hill | Dákwänje (Southern Tutchone) | Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation |
| Gádzûsdà Tayī Van Bibber | Łingít (Tlingit) | Selkirk First Nation |
| Khusínûkʼ Leah Smarch | Łingít | Liard First Nation |
| Dleit Héen Tláa Taneshia Jules | Łingít | Teslin Tlingit Council |
| Chʼáak Yádi Abigail Turner | Łingít | Teslin Tlingit Council |
| Khàgâne Zoë Grant-Wolfe | Łingít | Teslin Tlingit Council |
| Shgùnàkh Cordell Jules | Łingít | Teslin Tlingit Council |
| Ä́yínzhia Cory Holway | Dákwänje | Kwanlin Dün First Nation |
| Shàn Tlaa Nicole Welin | Łingít | Carcross/Tagish First Nation |
| Shä̀wkwälità Nathan Easterson-Moore | Dákwänje | Kluane First Nation |
| Béebi Zhōh Stewart “Stewie” Tizya | Dákwänje | Ta’an Kwäch’än Council |