‘Language revitalization’: Event at Regina school focuses on teaching Métis culture to young learners

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An event at a Regina school has supported Métis culture and language for the past three years in a row.

Hosted by McDermid Community School, Festivaal aen Michif featured several different activities to highlight Métis culture, including cooking Bannock over a fire and dogsled rides.

“The kids are excited to be learning from the land and connecting with Mother Nature,” said Chalyn Smith, a teacher at Mcdermid Community School.

The festival is an extension of the school’s Métis early language learning program, Mii Pchi Zaamii. The word translates to “My Little Friends” in Michif, the language of the Métis people.

The language program is offered through the Regina Public School Board and is in partnership with Métis Nation - Saskatchewan.

The program is intended to promote the Michif language and pass it to future generations.

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Mii Pchi Zaamii was originally intended for the pre-k and kindergarten levels but has now spread across every grade at McDermid School.

“It’s really exciting to see how the school has adopted the Michif program. It’s just about language revitalization,” said Vanea Cyr, the supervisor of Indigenous education at the Regina Public School Board.

Regina Public School Board was one of the original Saskatchewan school boards to participate in the program’s pilot project.

There are now 18 school boards in the province offering the program. The dialects of Michif are unique depending on the region.

The dialect being used at McDermid School has an influence of both French and the Cree language.

The school plans to continue expanding the use of the language.