"It's a big-time gift"

July 2, 2019 10:06 AM

Mi'kmaq speakers create new immersion curriculum

They may be a small minority, but first-language Mi'kmaq speakers are trying to make a big difference at the Alaqsite'w Gitpu School on the Listuguj First Nation.

posted by poffin boffin (3 comments total)

How wonderful. This part stood out to me: "We're not just translating curriculum from English to Mi'kmaq. We're developing it from our point of view. From the Mi'kmaq world view and it comes from our language." I wish the article had shown a little peek into the books.
posted by Liesl at 11:08 AM on July 2, 2019 [4 favorites]

Similarly, in Manitoba: For this grandmother and grandson, speaking Ojibway is 'an act of defiance'

I have to keep reminding myself that there are people who don't/can't see support for indigenous languages as a good thing. Back in Scotland recently I was pretty shocked by relatives of my parents' generation's insistent opposition to support for Gaelic. They said it's a dead language …
posted by scruss at 11:30 AM on July 2, 2019

What a lovely initiative and I really hope it does well. To lose a language is to lose a whole world.
posted by Gordafarin at 3:33 AM on July 4, 2019