ISU offering free Dene Kǝdǝ́ language lessons

The University of Alberta’s Indigenous Students’ Union (ISU) is offering free Dene Kǝdǝ́ language lessons from March 7 to June 27. Co-directors Deena Goodrunning and Raven Lees have been leading language revitalization efforts with the ISU. 

Goodrunning is a fifth-year English major from Sunchild First Nation. Raven Lees is a third-year Native Studies student. Their family comes from  Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation.

“I’ve kind of been really passionate about Indigenous language revitalization,” Goodrunning said. She mentioned that she did not grow up speaking Cree or Saulteaux. Rather, she learned Cree at the U of A. 

“The only thing that always kind of bothered me was that it costs a lot of money to take the Cree classes and I just kept thinking … that Indigenous people shouldn’t have to pay to learn their own languages.”

Goodrunning had previously put on an Indigenous language bingo night with the help of former ISU President Malijha Moyan. After becoming an executive with the ISU, Goodrunning talked with the other executives about doing Indigenous language classes. 

Goodrunning said she heard about Supporting Indigenous Language Revitalization (SILR), which funds initiatives for Indigenous language revitalization. She got in touch with Lauren Carter, the project assistant, and Pamela McCoy Jones, the executive director of SILR. Goodrunning said they agreed to provide honorariums for the language speakers.

Mandy Bayha, a third-year student doing a combined degree in Native studies and science and conservation, leads the lessons. Bayha comes from the Délı̨nę community in Treaty 11 territory and grew up speaking Dene.

Lessons cover more than just learning the words, Bayha explains

Bayha explained that there is a diversity and multitude of dialects within the Dene people’s language, which is tied to their specific regions. There’s also a diversity of dialects even within those specific regions, Bayha noted. 

“I share one specific dialect called Sahtúot’įnę Kǝdǝ́ which is one dialect in the Sahtú Region of Denendeh in Treaty 11 territory.”

She explained that Dene people see the Dene language as a gift from the Creator, which the land, animals, and environment has taught them. It also ties them to the Land, their culture, history, and spirituality. 

Bayha explained that the lessons cover history and culture as well as learning the words of the language. 

“[Our language] connects your spirit, mind, body, and as well as your connection and relationship to the land and the people around you,” Bayha said. “It’s a really kind of incredible process when you’re really breaking it down and talking about it and sharing it. It helps me feel more connected to home, more connected to myself, and it’s also becoming a safe space for all of us that are participating together.”

Bayha said she gets as much out of teaching as those attending the lessons do. Even though she leads the class and teaches the language, she said she’s still part of the cohort as an equal because “we learn from each other.”

“It was exciting to be part of helping other people learn the languages that they want to speak and connect to that.”

“It’s important that the diversity is represented in the language classes we offer,” Lees says

Goodrunning said she hopes to be able to offer Saulteaux lessons over the spring semester as well. She noted Edmonton has a whole diversity of Indigenous people and languages. 

“I feel like Cree kind of gets the most attention, that people feel like it’s the only Indigenous culture and language in Edmonton. But we have a lot more, and I think they’re all equally important.”

Cree, specifically nêhiyawêwin (Plains Cree), is currently the only Indigenous language the U of A teaches. Bayha noted that the U of A’s Indigenous strategic plan, Braiding Past, Present, and Future, mentions Indigenous language revitalization efforts as a goal. 

“They did a lot of good work in creating the strategic plan, and so we’d really like to see more spaces on our campus opened up for cultural activities,” Bayha said. “It’s so important because it’s healing, it’s connection, it’s feeling safe in spaces, and that’s important to all human beings.” 

Lees added that “it’s important to recognize that Amiskwacîwâskahikan, where we are right now, is historically a gathering place for many Indigenous groups and because of that, I think it’s important that the diversity is represented in the language classes we offer.”

Goodrunning explained that she hopes these lessons can inspire more people to take on Indigenous language revitalization efforts.

“Our culture is so, so rich and so beautiful, and I get so excited to be able to share that because I think so many people don’t really understand or know Indigenous peoples and cultures,” Bayha said.

CORRECTION: This article was updated at 12:06 p.m. on March 29, 2025 to reflect that Deena Goodrunning is no longer the vice-president (external) for the ISU. The Gateway deeply regrets this error.