Posted on May 10, 2019 by Christine Fiddler
Since 1972, SICC has been protecting, preserving, and promoting First Nations languages.
Priscilla St. John is the Education and Language Specialist for the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC). As the first Indigenous controlled education institution serving Saskatchewan, SICC offers opportunities for cultural revitalization for the following First Nations: Plains Cree, Swampy Cree, Woodlands Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota and Lakota. First Nations Elders met to discuss the importance of Indigenous language acquisition and developed outcomes that, combined with the provincially mandated curriculum, create the language-based curriculum that SICC promotes. St. John explains, First Nations languages start with our ways of knowing, our stories, our ancestors, our laws, our protocols, and are guided by Elders, which are all connected to the Creator. SICC provides First Nations with educational resources and language workshops that derive from their land-based and sacred language curricula. These opportunities and resources are available to anyone who is interested in language revitalization.
Posted on March 6, 2019 by Pam Greene
The Principal of the Dene Tha Community School, Carlito Somera, discusses the school’s commitment to holding fall and winter Cultural Camps for students in grades 4-12.
Carlito Somera is the Principal of the Dene Tha Community School located in Treaty 8, in the community of Chateh, Alberta, northwest of High Level. Somera discusses the Dene Tha’s Cultural Camps offered both in the fall and winter. During the fall camp, students from Grades 4-12 attend the Cultural Camp held over a five day period. There are many academic outcomes that are attached to the Cultural Camps. High school students earn and gain credits as part of the curriculum.
This land-based learning portion of the curriculum includes the Dene language and culture. With the leadership and support of local Dene hunters and language specialists, students learn how to prepare, cut, and dry meat. Students also participate in other cultural activities such as berry picking, willow gathering, storytelling, and playing traditional hand games. In the winter, the Cultural Camp is held at Bistcho Lake. Students travel by vehicle on ice roads to the summertime fly-in fishing location and stay in cabins during their visit. Some of the cultural activities taught are how to ice fish.
Posted on February 21, 2019 by Justina Black
BushKids is exploring the ethical space between Indigenous education and Western education principles in Yellowknife, NT.
BushKids co-founders are both trained as forest and nature school practitioners. Chloe Dragon Smith is a Dënesųłiné – Metis woman from Yellowknife, who grew up learning on-the-land through the Indigenous education principles of her family. Wendy Lahey is a non-Indigenous educator trained in the Western education system and has lived in the north for a long time. The two women are committed to working with the community, as possible, to create a curriculum that equally honours these systems of teaching and learning on the land.
The goal of BushKids is ultimately to affect the public education system and ensure all northern students spend regular time on the land throughout the school year. Programming is currently offered throughout the school year for pilot classes of all ages, from early childhood to high school. BushKids educators also work with teachers in public education systems with the goal of enabling them to bring their classes outside as part of their learning.
Posted on December 10, 2018 by Jiah Dzentu
Traditional Dene cultural camp near the community of Dettah, NT.
B. Dene Adventures offers traditional Dene culture programs for groups of all ages. B. Dene Adventures will educate students, social groups, industry and visitors in the NWT about the Yellowknives Dene First Nation traditional Dene way of life. We will do so by using our strong community relationships, our knowledge of the land and by creating a relaxing and comfortable environment for learning and sharing.
Posted on November 15, 2018 by Jiah Dzentu
Urban Hide Tanning in Somba K’e
Dene Nahjo’s Annual Urban Hide Tanning Camp is a reclamation of urbanized space in the heart of Somba K’e. They host a two week long camp in Somba K’e park, where guests are invited to witness or participate in hide tanning. There are Elders and experienced hide tanners available to mentor learners and share stories. Thousands of people have passed through Dene Nahjo’s Urban Hide Tanning Camp, including many students and hide tanning learners. This camp is an Indigenous safe space for us, as Indigenous people, to learn, have fun, make mistakes, make relationships and be vulnerable.
Posted on October 11, 2018 by Miriame Giroux
University of Victoria community based Indigenous Language Revitalization Bachelor of Education program. ”Our Indigenous language revitalization programs, offered in collaboration with the Department of Linguistics and the Division of Continuing Studies, seek to support communities to retain and revive their own language. While we offer on-campus Indigenous Education courses, we also offer our programs directly […]
University of Victoria community based Indigenous Language Revitalization Bachelor of Education program.
”Our Indigenous language revitalization programs, offered in collaboration with the Department of Linguistics and the Division of Continuing Studies, seek to support communities to retain and revive their own language. While we offer on-campus Indigenous Education courses, we also offer our programs directly within individual language communities.” from https://www.uvic.ca/education/areas-study/indigenous-language/index.php
