Meet William Firth: CBC North's new Gwich'in language radio host

Say hello to William Firth, the new host of CBC North's all-Gwich'in radio show Nantaii — meaning "country road," in Gwich'in.  

The Gwich'in language is his passion, and it has been since he was a child.

"Ever since I was a kid, I remember that I used to hear the language, but I couldn't read it or write it," said Firth.

"When I was a youngster, I would more or less walk away from the pack, I guess you would call it, and hang out with elders."

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He would listen to their stories and pick up on the language.

"More or less, trying to instill it in my life and whatever I was doing," he said. "I'm just constantly teaching myself."

And when he made mistakes, Firth said the elders would always help him correct and update his vocabulary.

"That's how I became where I am today."

Not a stranger to the CBC

Firth first worked at CBC in the 1980s, spending several years in Inuvik as a technician announcer, and then a Gwich'in radio host. He later moved on to work with the Gwich'in Tribal Council as a manager of language programs. 

Now that he's back in the host chair, he says he's been reconnecting with the community and finding out what issues the people want to hear.

"I have a feel of what's the issues out there so that, I'll bring to the mic," said Firth.

'Dilemma' with the language

Firth says he loves his language.

"It's beautiful," said Firth.

But there is a "dilemma that's happening" with the dwindling of original languages around the world, he said. "It's not only the Gwich'in language. It's every language."

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But he says he's more optimistic than ever before, especially with new technology like the Gwich'in Alpha language app available on iTunes.

Firth will be speaking to the 375 Gwich'in speakers alive today, according to a 2011 census.

Though Firth is currently training in the Yellowknife newsroom, he will host the show from Inuvik, starting next week.

Nantaii airs every weekday at 1 p.m. MT to the Gwich'in communities of the Northwest Territories and Old Crow, Yukon.