The Treaty 8 Dane-zaa Language Authority is called Hazááge? Nááwatsat (Our Language is Strong). The Authority is part of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association (T8TA), a not-for-profit society that works on behalf of five Treaty 8 First Nations in northeast British Columbia and is governed by the Council of Treaty 8 Chiefs (CT8C).

The Dane-zaa speaking communities of Doig River, Halfway River, Prophet River and West Moberly First Nations have set up a language authority to support the revitalization and development of Dane-zaa language in Treaty 8 territory. The language authority received formal recognition by the BC College of Teachers to certify Dane-zaa teachers in 2011.

» Download our brochure: The Dane-zaa Language Authority (1.4Mb PDF)
» Download our brochure: Speak Dane-zaa! (1.4Mb PDF)



Our mission is to work in unity to preserve, record, enhance and promote Dane-zaa language, history and culture within Treaty No. 8.

This will be accomplished by:

• recording and documenting Dane-zaa language culture and history
• developing and maintaining a Dane-zaa language and culture library
• developing new vocabulary
• developing culturally-based tools and resources
• certifying Dane-zaa teachers
• initiating community projects that educate members in Dane-zaa language, history and culture, and
• advocating for the use of Dane-zaa language in our communities and tribal governments

The primary role of the Authority is to certify Dane-zaa speakers and to support the development of projects that maintain and revive Dane-zaa language use in participating Treaty 8 communities.

The Authority acts as coordinating body to bring together speakers in Treaty 8 territory to revitalize and maintain the usage of Dane-zaa by:

• information gathering and research
• assessment and analysis
• organization and consultation
• writing and preparing language development plans
• community consultation
• project implementation, monitoring and review

The Authority will support community-based projects by providing assistance to individual communities to develop projects and will also act as a hub for inter-community initiatives.

» Download our planning document (530Kb PDF)



The Language Authority meets throughout the year to translate documents from English to Dane-zaa or Dane-zaa to English. For a rate schedule or to arrange for translation services contact Shona Nelson at the Treaty 8 office at 250-785-0612 ext. 244.



» Certifying to become a Dane-zaa Language Instructor
» Related sites and stories from Dane-zaa Elders