Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government

Photo: Adam Combs, courtesy of FNEF

The Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government is working to protect and revitalize the Sahtúot’ı̨nę language through their “Next Generation” project. Recognizing the urgent need to preserve the voices, stories and knowledge of fluent Elders, the initiative brings together Elders, survivors, youth, and community members to record, translate, and share traditional teachings for future generations. At its heart, this work is a response to the ongoing effects of residential schools, which disrupted the natural transfer of language and culture between generations.

Using land-based gatherings, recordings, and innovative tools such as digital archives and interactive “language clouds,” the project is creating a living repository of Sahtúot’ı̨nę knowledge. Elders and intergenerational survivors play central roles, offering their wisdom, guiding cultural and spiritual teachings, and helping shape educational resources that preserve language and traditional ways of knowing. Community members are also trained as transcriptionists and audio technicians, ensuring the work remains rooted in Délı̨nę while building local skills and capacity. The recordings and language resources are being integrated into local school curricula, supporting both formal education and lifelong learning.

While centred in Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę territory, the project’s impact extends across the Sahtú region, benefiting communities including Délįnę Dënë, Tulita Dënë, Fort Good Hope Dënë, Colville Lake Dënë, and Sahtú Métis communities. Together, these communities represent approximately 3,000 people who stand to benefit from the preservation and revitalization of their shared language and cultural knowledge. By creating resources that can be accessed by students, educators, and community members throughout the region, the project is helping ensure that Elders’ teachings remain available for future generations.

Beyond preserving language, the project recognizes the vital connection between culture, identity, and well-being. By reconnecting youth with their language and heritage, the initiative helps strengthen cultural pride, resilience, and a sense of belonging. Through this work, Délı̨nę is reconnecting generations, rebuilding cultural identity, and responding directly to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action that prioritize language revitalization. The Next Generation project represents a powerful step toward healing, resilience, and cultural resurgence in the Sahtú region.

Continued Impact

The success of the Next Generation project led to continued support from the Future Generations Foundation. In 2025–2026, Délı̨nę Got’įnę Government received an additional $121,000 for its Community Connections Project, an initiative designed to deepen intergenerational relationships while advancing language revitalization, cultural resurgence, and community healing.

Building on the foundation established through language preservation efforts, the Community Connections Project brings youth and Elders together through Dene Kǝdǝ́ language activities, storytelling, traditional drumming, hand games, and community gatherings. A central focus of the project is the restoration of the local cemetery, creating opportunities for survivors, families, and youth to honour community members affected by residential schools and the Sixties Scoop. Through the restoration process, youth learn about their community’s history, traditional stewardship practices, and the resilience of their people while helping preserve an important cultural and spiritual space.

The project also supports ongoing youth drumming programming, where participants learn to create traditional drums, practice songs, and engage in cultural teachings delivered in Dene Kǝdǝ́. In addition, an annual hand games tournament brings together communities from across the Sahtú region, strengthening cultural pride, regional connections, and the transmission of traditional knowledge. Together, these activities foster belonging, reinforce cultural identity, and create meaningful opportunities for healing across generations.

Through these two successive investments, Délı̨nę Got’įnę Government has demonstrated a sustained commitment to ensuring that language, culture, and community knowledge continue to thrive for future generations.

These projects were supported through FG Foundation’s Organization Funding Program. To learn more about how the program supports support community-driven programs that strengthen education, healing, language, culture, and reconciliation visit our Organization Funding Program page.