These tapes are of Mary Gouchie and some other Lheidli elders and are in Dakelh. The cassettes have been digitized to preserve them for future generations and for use in language projects. Photo Courtesy of The Exploration Place.

By Veronica Beltran

National Indigenous Languages Day

The Exploration Place celebrates National Indigenous Languages Day, virtually

Mar 31, 2020 | 12:16 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—March 31st marks National Indigenous Languages Day and although the Exploration Place is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are celebrating the day virtually.

The museum is making posts to Facebook aimed at informing the public on the importance of preserving Indigenous languages.

Local Elder Mary Gouchie dedicated much of her life to the revitalization of the local Dahelh language. Photo Courtesy, The Exploration Place.

“Language is not only a tool of communication, it holds knowledge, it holds values, it holds history,” said Chad Hellenius, Assistant Curator The Exploration Place, “it connects people to place and it’s important to not disrupt that connection.”

Locally, Elder Mary Gouchie was an essential part of revitalizing the local Carrier dialect, Lheidli. Gouchie along with Bill Poser, a local Linguist helped preserve the language together, something Hellenius says was a life long passion of Gouchie’s.

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In BC there is a total of 34 Indigenous languages with around 93 dialects. Locally, the Indigenous language is Dakelh, which has several dialects, including Lheidli.

“We need more of these languages used in the community, in the school system…just you know, in day to day life.”

Although having a National Day to celebrate Indigenous Languages across Canada is important, Hellenius highlights that celebration and attention on the subject should be held year round.

The Exploration Place has attempted to do their part in the revitalization of the local language through exhibits as well as including the traditional names of animals alongside the museums taxidermy and furs, something Hellenius says they try to do as much as they can.

The 34 Indigenous languages found in BC represent 60 percent of all Indigenous languages across Canada.