Using Storytelling to Teach Tłichǫ Language and Culture to Young Children in the Canadian Northwest Territories

Abstract

Reanna, Janet, and Jaimyka are early childhood educators who are recent graduates of the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Diploma program in Aurora College in the Northwest Territories of Canada. They used storytelling and related follow-up activities to teach their Indigenous language, Tłichǫ, in their early childhood field placements in daycares and a kindergarten classroom. They describe their storytelling experiences and then they, their instructor, Erica, and a university researcher who supports collaborative action research with northern educators, Shelley, reflect on what we have all learned from this experience. We begin by introducing Reanna, Janet and Jaimyka.