Since 1996, we have been recording words in the two main dialects spoken in the Gwich'in Settlement Area, Gwichya Gwich'in and Teetl'it Gwich'in. We are recording both dialects in order to produce Gwich'in dictionaries and to provide material for language classes and language training in the future.
Four editions of the Gwich'in Language Dictionary have been published to date by GSCI. The latest edition contains a section on Gwich'in grammar. Dictionary entries are gathered during thematic workshops and one-on-one interviews with Elders who are proficient in the language. Terms collected during research, such as the traditional caribou skin clothing project have also been incorporated. In future editions, words collected in developing the animal unit series will be added.
