La Ronge's Pre-Cam Community School is one of two school to offer the new programming. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Indigenous

Northern Lights now offers Cree language learning programs at two schools

Sep 22, 2022 | 1:28 PM

Métis Nation–Saskatchewan’s (MN–S) Early Learning Language program is expanding throughout the province including in the Northern Lights School Division.

Six new divisions are partnering with the Early Learning and Child Care Ministry to bring Michif and Dene languages to young students in all 12 MN–S regions. Cree programs will now be offered in the northern region as well.

“Our MN-S government partnered with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association in 2018 and has been working in tandem along with Elders to integrate distinctions-based Métis cultural content and perspectives in the classroom,” said MN-S president Glen McCalllum.

“The language programs are a result of that cooperation. To be able to nurture cultural revitalization through our children to their family unit is extremely gratifying.”

At its March meeting, the Provincial Métis Council approved the expansion of the Early Learning Language Programs. This fall, all 12 MN–S regions in Saskatchewan offer Indigenous language programs to their early learners.

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The six new school divisions include Living Sky, Northern Lights, Horizon, Good Spirit, and Prairie Valley. The MN-S partnership further supports efforts to promote, preserve, protect and revitalize Indigenous languages.

During its pilot year in 2020, the Michif and Dene Early Learning Language Programs supported 130 pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students in six school divisions. The program expanded last school year supporting over 300 Métis children with Heritage Michif, Northern Michif, French Michif, and Dene.

The Northern Lights School Division is introducing the Cree language learning program to pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students at the Pre-Cam Community School in La Ronge and Ministik School in Cumberland House.

The expansion of the Early Learning Language programs is expected to attract more than 600 young students province-wide.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno