Our Voices Echo

Voices of the Délı̨nę people have echoed across the land in stories told by the fire, songs sung in the Dene language, and through sacred teachings passed down through generations.

Today, Dene voices are fading. Fewer than fifty Elders across the communities that make up the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government (DGG) in the Northwest Territories remain fluent. As they age, the likelihood of the language being lost forever increases and the bridge that has carried Délı̨nę culture continues to weaken.

Before further erosion can take place, the DGG is bringing the Délı̨nę Arts and Cultural Centre to life. This community-led project is being designed as a permanent healing space where Elders, residential school survivors, youth, and families can gather to share stories, learn traditional skills, create art, and revitalize the Dene language. The Centre will offer dedicated spaces for memorial reflection and storytelling, and workshops in drumming, beadwork and medicine gathering, rooted in Dene teachings. While the Centre itself represents a long-term vision, healing programming is already underway for survivors of the residential school system.

 The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing support to make this early healing work possible and alleviate the burden on the DGG as it develops the Délı̨nę Arts and Cultural Centre. This includes funding costs associated with planning, Elder and Knowledge Keeper engagement, and the development of trauma-informed programming that reflects Dene wellness principles. The IRF will further contribute to architectural planning to ensure the Centre’s design embodies cultural and spiritual values that help the Délı̨nę reconnect generations, reclaim their language, and restore cultural strength.

Archdiocese of Vancouver