A sign on River Street in Prince Albert shows several Indigenous languages. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By northeastNOW Staff

Indigenous Languages

Métis language program now across Sask.

Sep 20, 2022 | 11:35 AM

Students across the province will be able to learn both Michif and Cree as the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN-S) expands its early language program.

Another six school divisions will partner with MN-S so that Michif, the language of the Métis, is available across the province. Cree will also be available in the North.

“Our Métis Nation-Saskatchewan government partnered with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) in 2018 and has been working in tandem along with Elders to integrate distinctions-based Métis cultural content and perspectives in the classroom. 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,” President Glen McCallum said.

The provincial Métis council gave the expansion the go-ahead at its March meeting, so now Living Sky, Northern Lights, Horizon, Good Spirit and Prairie Valley school divisions can offer the program.

The goal is to promote, preserve, protect and revitalize Indigenous languages, MN–S said in a news release on Tuesday.

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In 2020, the Michif and Dene programs were started as pilots and offered to 130 pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students in six divisions.

The next year, the program was expanded to involved over 300 Métis students who learned Heritage Michif, Northern Michif, French Michif and Dene.

This year, students at the Pre Cam School in La Ronge and Ministik School in Cumberland House will be included.

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