Donna Lerat is the Director of the K’Awasis Daycare on Cowesses First Nation, Saskatchewan. She has observed her community lose their cultural identity and language. At the Daycare, Lerat has implemented an Indigenous language and cultural protocols program for early learners to age twelve. By introducing young people, and the daycare staff, to Cree language and traditions, Lerat hopes to be part of the change whereby young people learn Cree, and learn, not just how to, but why they practice Cree cultural protocols and traditions. Cree language recordings and music are played throughout the day and children practice vocabulary related to numeracy, months, animals, basic words, and phrases related to greetings. Opportunities to engage early learners in Cree language acquisition will better equip them to learn Cree in school settings and that success will, hopefully, make them proud and confident Cree language speakers.
