Northern Lights School Division’s staff gathered last week for the annual Indigenous Language Conference.
The conference brought together Indigenous Language Teachers, Land Language Culture Coordinators, Principals, Vice Principals, Elders, EAs, Teachers, Consultants, Senior Staff and Board Chair, Joey McCallum.
This year, attendees were introduced to an updated First Nations and Métis Language Framework for grades 1-9. This framework was created by the Ministry of Education and Indigenous Educator’s in Saskatchewan, including the Division’s First Nations and Métis Education Consultants Leda Corrigal and Alexis McLeod.
Together, facilitators and attendees unpacked updated cultural outcomes and lessons. Participants were given an opportunity to create their own rubrics for outcomes like, “how to properly pick blueberries”, “how to fillet a walleye”, and “how to make dry meat”.
Laura Chaboyer presented resources she has developed for Ministik Community School and Cree immersion teachers. Including animated videos created on Canva of animals speaking Indigenous language to each other.
Orlanda Chaboyer-Flett was invited to speak on “C-FLI”, a resource used to teach students how to decode the Cree alphabet and sounds.
Gabrielle Fontaine presented “Walking in Two Worlds”. Sharing her lived experience on how being a Denesuline educator shapes her identity, worldview and work.
Division strategic goals prioritize education with an Indigenous Perspective. NLSD students deserve to know their culture and language, and this learning begins in our schools. Language conferences are key for knowledge sharing and building capacity in each educator across the north.
If you would like to learn more about our First Nations and Métis Education resources please contact Leda Corrigal, [email protected], Gabrielle Fontaine, [email protected], and Alexis McLeod, [email protected].