The report assesses multilingualism for Indigenous peoples in the Mackenzie district using data from the 1970 Northern Manpower Survey Program, which was collected between 1969 and 1971 in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. The authors identify six major language groups: “Dogrib, Slave, Chipewyan, Loucheux, Eskimo and English” (1). Survey respondents were 14 years of age or older, and the five questions on language use included; “language first learned as a child” (1); “language most often spoken at home” (1); and “up to three languages in each of the categories ‘currently spoken,’ ‘currently read,’ and ‘currently written’” (2). However, because “most of the indigenous languages cannot be formally written,” the authors did not use data on writing or speaking. It is important to note that communities had varying response rates, and rates were based on NWT government population estimates. A few key findings for Mackenzie native peoples: 

“English unilingualism is highest in the 14-24 age group.” (7)

“Native language unilingualism drops off sharply by age group.” (7)

“The use of English is greatest among the Métis in the Mackeznie District. Only 1 percent speak only their native language. Roughly have speak a native language and English; the other 50 percent speak only English.”  (7)

Dogrib, followed by "Slave," had the highest reported proportion of unilingual speakers (43% and 31%, respectively, table 2 p. 11). 

At the time of the survey, over 81% of the Indigenous population of the NWT had some knowledge of English. 

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This document is available in the NWT Archives: Accession no. 2007-14  (Cynthia Chambers Collection). 

Barrados, Maria, and Martha Burd Van Dine. Multilingualism of Natives in the Mackenzie District: An Analysis of data from the Northern Manpower Survey Program. Ottawa: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Northern Social Research Division, 1977.