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Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre
Animation Theme Bundle: Aboriginal Language Learning

<>  Aboriginal Knowledge Learning Centre  <>  Six Theme Bundles  <>
<>  Language Bundle Descriptor  <>  Summary of Activities <>
<> Blue Quills Language Team <> Literature Review <> Language Theme Working Group <>
<> Invitation <> Contact Information <> Promotional Material <>

EVENTS >
Alberta Provincial Indigenous Language Symposium University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB
March 27 & 28, 2009  >> 

  To Watch a Video Recap of the Symposium >> ClickHere 
WMV > Windows Media Player

T.A.I.L. Symposium Report (pdf format)

kehte-ayak e-kiskinohtahikoyahkik (As the Elders Guide Us)
Report on Indigenous Knowledge Symposium  (pdf format)

Blue Quills First Nations College is honoured to carry the Aboriginal Language Animation Theme Bundle for the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre project, a Canadian Council on Learning Initiative. 

In the words of one of the team members:

“This work honours our ancestors who carried the language for us, and those who are learning now so that they may carry the language for the next generations.  We are grateful to the Creator for this gift of language, and our Elders have to us that the voice of the land is in our languages"

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 Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre (ABLKC) is one of five Knowledge Centres of the Canadian Council of Learning (CCL) established to investigate the state of learning in Canada.

The purpose of the ABLKC is to provide:

1. a national focus for knowledge exchange of aboriginal learning initiatives,

2. exemplary practices,

3. scholarly and community dialogue,

4. discussion and collaboration to improve the lifelong learning of Aboriginal learners.

The First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium (FNAHEC) and the University of Saskatchewan are coordinating the ABKLC and have identified six focused thematic areas of the centre.

 The Six Animation Research Theme Bundles are:

1. Learning From Place

2. Comprehending Learning Spirit of Self/Identity in and through Learning Units (family, community, peers, etc)

3. Aboriginal Language Learning

4. Diverse Educational Systems and Learning

5. Pedagogy of Professionals and Practitioners in Learning

6. Technology and Learning

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 Descriptor - ATB #3 Aboriginal Language Learning

Lodged in the heart of the first peoples of these lands, within their own world views and social systems, language fosters the source of connectivity between the spiritual and physical realms. Cast within this reality, language embraces feelings and spirit and is integral to a holistic sense of being distinctive and inherent in the lands occupied by generations of aboriginal language speakers. This theme explores the role Aboriginal languages have on transmitting our own knowledge, culture and literacy; and considers how our current capacities engender our own ecologies and future opportunities.

Blue Quills First Nations College will lead the Aboriginal Language Learning Bundle for the next three years beginning November 2006.

This theme explores the role Aboriginal languages have on learning our own knowledge, culture and literacy; and how we develop our language and other languages to improve our current capacities, our communities and cultures.

"Our commitment to the language arises from our ancestors who stood up for their children and grandchildren and generations yet unborn.  They gained control of this school and inspired us to pursue our education so we could become the curriculum developers and instructors using traditional knowledge and teaching methods to ensure the next generations would learn their languages and life-ways." - Dr. Leona Makokis, President - Blue Quills First Nations College

The primary goal of the project is to gather and disseminate information relating to indigenous language initiatives and resources.  To accomplish this the Animation Theme Bundle (ATB) team has activated four sub-committees, April 2007:

1. Knowledge Exchange committee coordinates communications among nations and language advocates, disseminate publications, create a directory of language resources including a web-page devoted to the Bundle, and links to other indigenous languages web-sites.

2. Monitoring and reporting committee, (CLI) identifies aboriginal language learning indicators and develops indicators where none exist.

3. Promising Language Practices committee, networks with educators and practitioners to writes stories of what’s happening in language.

4. Language teacher education committee, networks to support language educators and what is happening in the area of teacher education and certification.

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 Following is a summary of activities conducted by the Blue Quills First Nation College Language Bundle team from the months of November, 2006 through to May, 2007 in accordance with the foundational functions determined by the CCL and ABLKC.

Knowledge Exchange and Information Sharing (7 sessions/presentations)

1. ILIC, Tsuut’ina Nation, Nov 2006

2. National FN Language Conference, Winnipeg

3. Language Conference, Saskatoon

4. Knowing Our Spirits Conference, Edmonton

5. Blackfoot Language Symposia, Kainai, Jan. 2007 & Apr 2007

6. Awâsis Conference, April 2007

7. Vancouver Language Symposium, Feb. 07

8. Website posting, brochure, power point presentation, news release

Research and Knowledge Mobilization

1. Adhered to ceremonial protocol to carry language bundle, Nov

2. Annotated Bibliography and Synthesis, Dec 06

3. Contacted 35 Immersion sites: electronic template

4. Networking with learning from place & learning from spirit bundles

5. Researching Indigenous language instructors’ certification, Mar 07

6. First draft literature review

7. Elders’ Syllabic Literacy

8. Indigenous Immersion Round Table, May 07

Monitoring and Reporting/ Administrative Tasks

1. Attend ATB Lead meetings

2. Submit 3-year Strategic Plan

3. Signed sub-agreement with ABLKC

4. Conduct monthly team meetings, internal communications

5. Submit Language Theme Bundle description and lead for CCL website posting

6. Create Working group terms of reference, ordering publications

7. Conducted 2 Working Group Conference calls, Jan and April, 07

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Blue Quills First Nations College Language Bundle Team

 Although our College President is identified as the bundle lead, a team of members work collectively to meet bundle responsibilities. Hence, we adhere to Cree cultural norms that we highly value and operate in accordance with the grandmother’s teachings, where we each perform an important role according to our gifts to generate the best outcomes.  Our esteemed team members, their roles and responsibilities are as follows:

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Language Theme Bundle Literature Review

 A working team conducted a literature review, completing a first draft at the end of March, 2007.  The annotated bibliography completed in December, 2006 provided ample sources of literature. The research question formulated for this purpose was, ‘What are the current practices for countering language shift and maintaining aboriginal knowledge systems for the future generations of Aboriginal language learners?’

The over arching purpose was to review existing literature in Aboriginal language for the Aboriginal Language Theme Bundle of the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre.  The literature review synthesized what is known of traditional knowledge ownership, current approaches used in school-based Aboriginal language programming and community-based learner initiatives.  Theoretical and practical language models were critically assessed for cultural relevance and applicability in language maintenance and revitalization.  Finally, where gaps were revealed in the literature questions were formulated for further research.  The scope of the publications includes journals, books, government reports and policy documents and unpublished doctoral and masters’ thesis.  Where it was deemed necessary, oral teachings were included in the literature review.

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Aboriginal Language Theme Bundle Working Group

 The working group members contribute a tremendous wealth of knowledge, expertise and passion to the Language bundle.  Their willingness to devote time and effort is commendable and invaluable.  The Aboriginal Language bundle working group draws expertise from coast to coast and two northern territories.

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 We welcome input on the manner in which we address our responsibilities. You are invited to browse the website for additional information and we look forward to hearing about language related activities or events in your territories. Thank you for this opportunity to share our experiences.

The Aboriginal Language Learning Bundle Working Group is actively seeking opportunities to share information about this project. Please contact Blue Quills First Nations College if you are planning or hosting language events (workshops, conferences, etc) in your community or institution.

If you wish to be included in this dialogue please contact our Blue Quills team members at cree@bluequills.ca. 

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 Contact Information

Dr. Leona Makokis, Aboriginal Language Theme Bundle Lead
Blue Quills First Nations College, Box 279, St. Paul, AB,  T0A 3A0

Phone: 888-645-4455                  Fax: 780-645-5215

E-mail: cree@bluequills.ca

Web Site www.bluequills.ca

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 Download a copy of our promotional Brochure (in Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF format)

Language Bundle Brochure  (double click to view then save or right click and "save target"

Date this page was last updated -  May 29, 2009 08:27 AM

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