Students learn First Nations language (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Students learn First Nations language

By Jean COMPTON
The Chronicle
Dec 05 2006
http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=18&cat=43&id=785187&more=

Aurea Joe’s face lights up as she reads the morning phrases over the
intercom at North Oyster Elementary school.

“Uy skweyul - good day, i u ch uw uy al - how are you?”

Aurea was chosen to make the Hul’qumi’num announcements that day, as one
of the Chemainus First Nations students who make up over half of the
school’s 140 students.

Making the language prominent in the school is the job of Hul’qumi’num
language support teacher Donna Wilford.

“I don’t go into classes and instruct the language. My job is to make
the language apparent, used in the school and recognized,” said
Wilford.

Each week, Wilford makes up a new word list with three or four words and
expressions that get posted on a board in the front hallway, and read on
the morning announcements.

Classrooms compete for prizes in school-wide games based on the
language, such as treasure hunts and quizzes.

Students even get a chance to grade teachers on their use of greeting
words.

Wilford has developed materials and resources to support classroom
teachers seeking ways to incorporate Hul’qumi’num words in their
classroom.

One example are the language boxes, one for each season, with games,
posters and flash cards for primary and intermediate grades.

She has also developed an extensive resource list that documents all the
Coast Salish Culture resources in the district.

“The feedback I’ve gotten is very positive. It’s not only keeping the
speech alive, but the culture too,” said Wilford.

“Each language has its own culture and way of thinking embedded into
it.”

Having their language used in the school helps with children’s
self-esteem as well as with academics, such as mathematics.

As well as reinforcing the native language of the First Nations
students, learning Hul’qumi’num helps non-native speakers in several
ways.

Studies show that learning any language activates a part of the brain
specifically devoted to language.

“It makes children aware that the world is a big and interesting place,”
said Wilford.

Wilford is not a native speaker; she is Metis with a northern Manitoba
Cree and Scottish heritage, and speaks many languages.

She has studied Hul’qumi’num and picked up words from the native
language speakers who used to work as educational assistants at the
school.

The educational assistants went on to train at Malaspina
University-College as certified culture and language teachers, and as
such are in great demand in the school district.

“Trained Hul’qumi’num language teachers can get full-time jobs,” said
North Oyster principal Don Anderson, whose budget allows only for
part-time language support.

Robyn Gray, District Principal of Aboriginal Education, said that the
challenge is there are not enough fluent speakers from the community.
There are 10-12 people enrolled in the MalU course.

There are currently 45 people working as Aboriginal educational
assistants in School District 68.

North Oyster School student Aurea Joe reads the morning phrases over the
intercom.

JEAN COMPTON/ THE CHRONICLE