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Important cultural and historical lessons will be learned in Tlicho communities starting this fall thanks to publication of a new book, which was made possible in part to a contribution from De Beers Canada.

Tłı̨chǫ Whaèhdǫǫ̀ Godıı̀ (Tłı̨chǫ Storıes from Long Ago) and an accompanying Teachers’ Guide were launched recently at an event held in Behchoko, Northwest Territories.

“These are our stories from long ago that have been passed down to us,” said Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault, Culture and Language Coordinator for the Tlicho Community Services Association. “When young people are out on the land, the evidence is out there for them to see. “Our history helps them know who they are as Tlicho people.”

The book contains stories collected from elders, a process that took two years. The 500 copies will be distributed to students in Grades 1-8 in the fall for use in classrooms at all Tlicho community schools.

The accompanying guide will help teachers’ understand how to incorporate the book and its stories into the classroom. Workshops are being planned to introduce the teachers to the resource and other materials, including recordings of interviews with elders, a map of the region and a PowerPoint for teachers to use in the classroom.

“This is a living document and we want it to get bigger and better and we want to keep adding to it,” said Tammy.

In addition to funding from TCSA and the Tlicho Government, $15,000 was provided through the De Beers Canada Fund.

“This is an important book that will help Tlicho youth build a better connection to their culture and history,” said Erik Madsen, General Manager of Sustainability, De Beers Canada. “This is the kind of project that De Beers is proud to support because it will result in real, long-lasting benefits in the communities where we work.”

During 2016, De Beers provided close to $610,000 in social investment projects in the Northwest Territories, of which more than half went to cultural and heritage initiatives.