Ets’ulah:

Abstract

My project is about how ets’ulah (Dene love song) can contribute to the revitalization of Sahtúgot’ı̨ nę language. The Sahtúgot’ı̨ nę language is spoken in the community of Délı̨ ne, Northwest Territories. My research highlights the Sahtúgot'ine tradition of ets'ulah, a musical form that will entice young people to use their language. Ets'ulah is the most neglected of the musical expressions of culture, yet one of the oldest traditions for representing kinship links, family legacies, and ties to the land and life on the land. I provide a study of noted singer the late Eliza Blondin to help revitalize Sahtúgot’ı̨ nę language through the value of ets'ulah, for as Besha Blondin, Eliza’s daughter, says, “the language is like ets’ulah”.