Retired educator, Rose Pacquette, discusses the importance of reclaiming Dene culture and identity by learning the Dene language. Pacquette has witnessed the loss of Dene language in her community, and with the loss of language, Dene culture has been replaced by English and social media. She has been a teacher in her community, Fond Du Lac, Saskatchewan for many years and she stresses that language is the foundation of having a strong cultural identity, which is why it is crucial to teach Dene to younger generations. The Dene Nation needs to be reclaimed and the Dene people need to know the cultural traditions, their worldview, and the history of their people in order to be proud of their cultural identity. For Dene people, Indigenous education should reflect Dene culture, language, and traditions.
