Posted on March 2, 2020 by Marion Erickson
Hailey Prince details the Nak’azdli Cultural Centre’s aims and initiatives of capturing and maintaining Dakelh traditional knowledge through methods of traditional knowledge transfer from Elders. The centre offers programs and classes that are focused on strengthening areas of traditional Dakelh knowledge. Classes include teaching Dakelh language; drums, rattles, snowshoes, shawls, vests, baskets making; as well, […]
Hailey Prince details the Nak’azdli Cultural Centre’s aims and initiatives of capturing and maintaining Dakelh traditional knowledge through methods of traditional knowledge transfer from Elders. The centre offers programs and classes that are focused on strengthening areas of traditional Dakelh knowledge. Classes include teaching Dakelh language; drums, rattles, snowshoes, shawls, vests, baskets making; as well, learning traditional ways of hunting, trapping, and fishing. Among being a place of teaching and learning, the Cultural Centre is a support system to the community through ensuring all those in need are cared for. A food hamper program is an example Hailey describes as one way the centre ensures those in need are cared for. All donations given to the centre are offered to families in need. Traditional knowledge retention and community support are just some of the areas in which Hailey Prince views the Nak’azdli centre as an area of success in Indigenous education.
Posted on February 24, 2020 by Lisa Jodoin
Andrew Harvey, the Director of Social Supports and Interventions at First Light Native Friendship Centre in St. John’s Newfoundland, discusses his work with the men’s group and how it incorporates land-based learning into its programming.
Andrew Harvey, the Director of Social Supports and Interventions at First Light Native Friendship Centre in St. John’s Newfoundland, discusses his work with the men’s group and how it incorporates land-based learning into its programming.
Posted on February 15, 2020 by Ruby Thompson
Examples of formal and informal Indigenous Education from a ‘student of life’ who describes the importance of language and land-based learning.
Examples of formal and informal Indigenous Education from a ‘student of life’ who describes the importance of language and land-based learning.
Posted on December 19, 2019 by Steffany Salloum
Learning nēhiyawēwin through language acquisition methods that have informed Bringing nēhiyawēwin Home, a program designed by Belinda Daniels and offered through READ Saskatoon.
Belinda Daniels, onikanew (she who leads), runs a program through READ Saskatoon called, Bringing nēhiyawēwin Home. The program was born from the idea of learning language in a natural setting by enjoying food at the kitchen table, intergenerationally, with family members. The nēhiyawēwin (Cree) language classes are offered to anyone who wants to learn nēhiyawēwin in Saskatoon and encourages learners of all ages.
Language learners come to the class in a good way by introducing and positioning themselves in the community. The group offers tobacco to the language spirit and follows protocol by saying a prayer and smudging at the beginning of class. By learning Cree around the kitchen table, learners are able to learn food terminology in a coincidental way. Some terms and vocabulary include learning how to ask and say: Are you hungry?; I am hungry; What is this?; this is good; I would like some more; soup, bannock, pop, juice, milk, salad, pizza, etc.
In the classes, Daniels employs three language learning methods which are the direct method, task-based learning, and accelerated second language acquisition. Daniels hopes that her students become intrinsically motivated to bring language home and pass it on to the next generation of nēhiyawēwin language learners. By reclaiming language we work to restore identity, nationhood, and make gains towards sovereignty and self-determination.
