Our Language

Dinjii Zhuh k’yuu is the name of the Gwich’in language. The language is spoken in northern Yukon, northeast Alaska and the northwest part of the Northwest Territories. 

Dinjii Zhuh k’yuu is the official language of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. Everyone has the right to speak Gwich’in in any debates or other proceedings of the General Assembly or Council.

The laws, records and journals of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation are printed and published in English and may be translated into Dinjii Zhuh k’yuu in the future.

Canada’s residential school system nearly wiped out our language. Today, the Van Tat Gwich'in and other Gwich’in communities are working to revitalize the Dinjii Zhuh k’yuu language, in our school and by training language teachers and raising young Van Tat Gwich'in speaking the language.