Elder Mary Charlie enjoys the company of people of all ages at the Tu Cho Centre near Frances Lake in the Yukon, where they gather to immerse themselves in the Kaska language. As a board member of the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society, Charlie finds comfort in expressing herself in her native tongue at this camp.
Recalling her past experiences of losing fluency in Kaska due to her time at Lower Post Residential School, where she was reprimanded for speaking the language, Charlie values the inclusive environment of the camp. She emphasized the unity among participants, emphasizing, “We’re all together. We’re one nation.”
While Charlie has a good understanding of Kaska, she is still working on fluency, viewing her progress as a significant achievement since her early days post-residential school. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “I came a long way to learn all over again. I’m just learning, starting all over again, just like going to Grade 1, Grade 2, but I’m getting there and I’m really happy.”
Recently, numerous Kaska language learners convened at the Tu Cho Centre for a language camp following the completion of its expansion. Ann Maje Raider, the executive director of the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society, highlighted the importance of such camps in preserving the endangered Kaska language.
Raider expressed admiration for the growing interest in the language, especially among the youth, indicating a positive outlook for the future. She remarked, “I say the future looks good. I know our ancestors would be really happy. They would be really happy that this is happening here.”
Apart from classroom lessons, participants engaged in cultural and land-based activities to enhance their vocabulary. Through activities like setting rabbit snares, filleting fish, and constructing lean-to shelters, learners integrated language learning with their connection to the land.
One participant, Patricia Livingston, relocated to the Yukon to access Kaska language opportunities, feeling a stronger bond with her culture and community through interactions with elders and participation in cultural activities at the camp. Livingston emphasized the significance of language in understanding her identity and expressed her intent to give back to the community by teaching Kaska in the future.
With the recent expansion of the Tu Cho Centre, funded by the federal government, Raider envisions hosting more camps and retreats to revitalize Kaska culture. Reflecting on the historical displacement of Kaska people and the significance of returning to their ancestral land, Raider emphasized the importance of reconnecting with their roots.
For Charlie, being on Kaska land at the centre enhances the language learning experience, grounding participants in their cultural heritage.