DIAMONDS: De Beers helps fund book of cultural lessons for Tljcho youth

[caption id="attachment_1003720215" align="aligncenter" width="470"] The launch of a book containing old Tljcho cultural stories was made possible with support from De Beers. (Credit: De Beers Canada)[/caption] TORONTO – De Beers Canada has contributed $15,000 toward a new book that captures key cultural lessons for Tljcho youth. The book, Tljcho Whaehdoo Godii (Tljcho Storıes from Long Ago), and an accompanying teachers’ guide were launched recently at an event held in Behchoko, N.W.T The book contains stories collected from elders, a process that took two years. Five hundred copies will be distributed to students for use in classrooms at all Tljcho 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 presentation for teachers to use in the classroom. Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault, culture and language co-ordinator for the Tljcho Community Services Association, said, “These are our stories from long ago that have been passed down to us. 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 Tljcho people. “This is a living document and we want it to get bigger and better and we want to keep adding to it,” she said. Learn more about how De Beers Canada maintains its social licence to operate at www.DeBeersGroup.com/canada/en/.