In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly has included the Dene Zhatıé language in its self-guided audio tour. This addition represents a meaningful advancement in language revitalization efforts, emphasizes the official languages of the Northwest Territories, expands the range of services provided in these languages, and promotes the process of reconciliation.
The Dene Zhatıé audio tour can be accessed through the “Smartify” app. Users who wish to embark on the tour must first download the Smartify app, where they will find the Dene Zhatıé version of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly audio tour listed in the app’s tour inventory, alongside versions in Tłı̨chǫ, English, and French.
Mary Jane Cazon, a legislative interpreter, translates and narrates the Dene Zhaté tour, which covers the history of the Northwest Territories, the Mace, the structure, and the consensus government. Its purpose is to educate visitors about the Legislative Assembly and to extend a welcome to “The Place of the People.” The self-guided audio tour is available to the public whenever the building is open: on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
