Presenter Drew Hayden Taylor at the conference on Thursday. Photo courtesy Maverick_Ross, Twitter.
First Nation educators are gathered in Saskatoon for the next two days to promote language learning in classrooms in First Nation schools.
The Full Circle Language Revitalization Education and Wellness Conference looks to help First Nation community schools reclaim culture through their native languages. The conference is being hosted by the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) Education division, and started on Thursday.
Heather Merasty is the Director of Education for MLTC and said traditional languages hold the information of thousands of years of culture and shapes the way Indigenous people interact with the world.
She said there is a world view hidden in those languages which outlines the way people are to live.
“The way to reclaim language and culture is a way towards healing” she said.
“Our First Nations children are entitled to a quality education that fully respects their cultural identity and fostering learning through a holistic approach.”
Merasty said learning isn’t just from Monday to Friday during regular school hours and the goal within the Tribal Council is to empower their learners to be lifelong learners.
Over the course of the two-day conference, participants will discuss topics such as immersion models for first languages, land based education and connecting the community and school.
The conference is intended for Elders, educators, administrators, university students and anyone working with First Nation students and will showcase an array of presenters whom are committed to truth and reconciliation in the areas that connect youth to land, language, relationships and culture in a holistic, responsive and reflective practice.
At the height of residential schools operating in Canada, many First Nations people lost the use of the language and many cultural ceremonies were frowned upon.