Dene K’e

Language Family: Dene (Athabaskan)

Language known as: Dene, Dene Tha’, Acha'otinne, Dene Tha (ᑌ ᒐ)

Key Phrases

Sa Na Needleh^A - Long time no see

For more key phrases see the First Voices Archive

Dene K’e is spoken in the far Northeast corner of British Columbia, the southeast corner of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta. The language is called Dene Tha’ where it is spoken in northern Alberta and has been known by the English name "Slave". In spite of its originally pejorative sense, the term "Slave" is in often used by Dene K’e people when speaking English and is a translation of Cree "awahka:n" meaning "captive/slave"¹.
The people of the Fort Nelson First Nation are the only Dene K’e speaking community in British Columbia².

For more resources see the Dene K’e Resource Page

State of the Language

First Nation	Population	Fluent Speakers	Understand or Speak Somewhat	Learning Speakers
Fort Nelson First Nation³	806	43	40	130
Total	806	43	40	130

Footnotes / References

1. source: http://www.ydli.org/langs/slave.htm
2. Kotchea, Antoine (2009, Sept.1). Interview with Antoine Kotchea.
3. Language Data from Fort Nelson First Nation (2010), Language Needs Assessment #1946

Audio Clip References

A. Sa Na Needleh - Kotchea, Antoine (2009, Sept.1). Interview with Antoine Kotchea.