DÉLı̨NĘ — A family-centred translation project that renders into contemporary language an Elder’s 1980s recording of the Sahtú Dene prophet Ɂehtsǝ́o Erǝ́ya will be launched on Aug. 15 at the Délı̨nę Spiritual Gathering, organisers say.
Recording spans generations of teachings
The recording, made by Cecile Modeste Sr. in the 1980s, recounts the words and teachings of Grandfather Louis Ayah — known widely as Ɂehtsǝ́o Erǝ́ya — a respected 19th‑ and 20th‑century Sahtú Dene prophet and spiritual leader who died in 1940. After four years of careful translation and preparation, the material will be published online at deline.ca as part of a project titled Ɂehtsǝ́o Erǝ́ya Ékɑrı̨dí (Ɂehtsǝ́o Erǝ́ya Spoke These Words): Teachings Carried Through Our Family.
The translation work was led by Jennie McPherson, who is the granddaughter of Cecile Modeste Sr. McPherson, a Sahtugot’ine Dene originally from Délı̨nę and now resident in Norman Wells, worked with her mother, Jane Modeste, and her uncle, David Modeste, to render the material. Filmmaker Tate Juniper produced and edited an introductory interview that will accompany the release.
Language, faith and continuity
McPherson, who speaks Dene Kedǝ́ (North Slavey) and is pursuing graduate studies in Indigenous language revitalization, said the goal of the project is to make the teachings accessible to members of the Sahtú community and to the wider public.
“It’s taken 50 years since my granny did this recording in the ’80s for it to be shared in this way with the public and with the world — and especially with our people.”
She told CKLB radio the recording bridges Dene spirituality and Christianity and offers guidance that remains relevant to present‑day challenges: climate change, addictions and the social disruption that accompanied language shift and Western education.
“Some of it’s even scary because he talks about end times — prophecies of what’s going to happen and climate change, everything that we’re facing today, addictions,” McPherson said, underscoring that the central counsel in the recording is simple but demanding: love and respect for one another.
Local context and significance
For Délı̨nę and neighbouring Sahtú communities, the release has cultural and educational importance. The recording captures oral teachings from a prominent Elders’ era at a time when many Dene languages were under pressure. Making the material available in both recorded and interpretive formats supports language revitalization efforts and provides a resource for families, schools and community programs.
McPherson’s academic work in environmental science and Indigenous language revitalization positions her to bridge community memory, academic practice and digital dissemination — an important combination for materials rooted in oral tradition.
- Themes in the recording: prophecy and spiritual guidance
- Contemporary relevance: climate change and social challenges
- Community purpose: language preservation and intergenerational learning
Who contributed
| Contributor | Role |
|---|---|
| Cecile Modeste Sr. | Original recorder (1980s) |
| Jennie McPherson | Lead translator, interviewer, project lead |
| Jane Modeste | Translator |
| David Modeste | Translator |
| Tate Juniper | Filmed and edited introduction |
Availability and next steps
The project will be launched publicly on Aug. 15 on the Délı̨nę website during the community’s Spiritual Gathering. Organisers have described the release as a starting point: a recorded version and supporting materials will be available online, and the family hopes the material will be used in local programming and language learning initiatives.
For communities across the North facing rapid environmental change and social transition, the publication of an Elder’s teachings may offer both cultural continuity and practical guidance. In the words conveyed by the family: the recording’s counsel is striking in its simplicity — respect and love as foundations for facing complex, modern challenges.
Details about how to access the material will be posted at deline.ca in time for the Spiritual Gathering.
