Last week it was announced that the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division (SRPSD) and Prince Albert Catholic School Division will be joining the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MNS) in preserving and revitalizing Michif language and culture.
Both divisions will be joining the Michif Early Learning Pilot Project (MELPP) starting in the fall of 2021.
Sask Rivers Superintendent Jennifer Hingley explained that the partnership came together because of the MN-S.
“It’s their initiative and we feel privileged to be included and brought on board,” Hingley said.
Catholic Division director of education Lorel Trumier was excited to see partnerships with the MN-S grow in the division including the recent donation of 204 Chromebooks.
She said that they were also excited to engage in the two year Michif pilot program. They are still determining which schools will be part of the program.
“We have got to determine that at this point we are just assessing on that matter now and we are looking forward to implementing that in the fall. Most likely it will be a Kindergarten program that we will be able to have that Michif language and cultural experience for those children,” Trumier said.
In Sask. Rivers, St Louis Public School and Queen Mary Public School have been selected to be part of the program.
According to Hingley St. Louis was chosen because it was a historical Métis community.
“It seemed like the most respectful and seamless way was to go with St. Louis. and Prince Albert itself also has a lot of strong Métis connections and history. And then we just looked at where we had high populations of Indigenous and Métis students so that we could provide that experience for them,” she explained.
This goes along with other language work in the division such as the Cree Kindergarten program at John Diefenbaker and other initiatives.
“The fact that the Métis Nation came to us with this opportunity fit in beautifully with our work around Truth and Reconciliation and creating opportunities for students to learn a historical language and practice their culture within a school setting,” Hingley said.
The purpose of the partnership is to bring revitalization and recognition to the Michif language. Michif itself is a combination of Cree and French and evolved and developed over time. She explained that it is an opportunity to use the critical elements of language and culture for young learners.
“It’s an opportunity to partner with school divisions, because that is where the learners are, to then provide children with that opportunity to learn the Michif language and experience a Métis culturally enhanced classroom through this partnership as well,” Hingley said.
The MN-S announced the expansion to the early learning language pilot projects last week. The language has less than 700 fluent speakers in Canada. According to MNS both the MELPP and the sister project the Dene Early Learning Pilot Project (DELPP) are significant and unprecedented steps in preserving Métis culture. The pilot was originally announced in September, 2020.
In the province there are currently over 130 Kindergarten and Pre-K students learning moth Michif and Dene.
“We see the images of the smiling young faces engaged in the learning of our language, and we can’t help but light up. This program was introduced to help preserve Michif and Dene languages and encourage a whole new generation of speakers and educators. In just seven short months, we have surpassed expectations.” MN–S Education Minister Dr. Earl Cook said in a release.
The MN-S will provide support, expertise and resources while division early learning staff will provide knowledge, vibrant early learning environments and a strong community connection.
In a release, Sask Rivers said that it has a strong history of successful early learning programs and joining this program is an exciting addition. We know that a strong start in education is paramount to early learning development and future student success. This MN-S program is an exciting opportunity because children with a strong cultural identity and respect for multiple languages and cultures often have increased academic success.
The division’s early learning educators will be working with MN-S and our staff and families in these two school communities to determine the details about how the MELPP will be structured and delivered. Details will be finalized over the coming months.
Hingley emphasized how pleased the division was to be included in the partnership and the opportunity it presented for students.
“The fact it is happening for our early learning students and the fact that it is happening at the early learning means that our students will have that opportunity to have their identity affirmed as soon as they make those first connections with school,” Hingley said.
“They will see the Métis culture will be reflected and those students will see themselves in the learning and then I think the whole school community benefits from that as well.”
The MN-S announced the expansion to the early learning language pilot projects last week. The language has less than 700 fluent speakers in Canada. According to MNS both the MELPP and the sister project the Dene Early Learning Pilot Project (DELPP) are significant and unprecedented steps in preserving Métis culture. The pilot was originally announced in September, 2020.
In the province there are currently over 130 Kindergarten and Pre-K students learning moth Michif and Dene.
“We see the images of the smiling young faces engaged in the learning of our language, and we can’t help but light up. This program was introduced to help preserve Michif and Dene languages and encourage a whole new generation of speakers and educators. In just seven short months, we have surpassed expectations.” MN–S Education Minister Dr. Earl Cook said in a release.
The Michif pilot project will continue in Regina Public Schools, Regina Catholic Schools, Saskatoon Public Schools, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and Rossignol Elementary in Île-à-la-Crosse. Along with Sask. Rivers and Prince Albert Catholic the other divisions joining next fall are the Northwest School Division and Prairie Spirit School Division.
