Canadian Council on Learning | Conseil Canadien sur l'Apprentissage

Indigenous Language Instructors’ Certificate

Elders Circles

How Indigenous Knowledge informs and directs the development of an instructors’ certificate in Indigenous languages.

Report on findings

Diana Steinhauer
Anna-Leah King
Heather Blair
James Lamouche

Description

The purpose of this project was to research how Indigenous Knowledge informs the design and development of Indigenous language certification in Alberta, Canada. A literature review on the subject was conducted and current post secondary Indigenous language instructor programs in Western and Northern Canada were examined. Most importantly, the advice of Elders, as holders and stewards of Indigenous Knowledge, was sought.

Background

This project builds upon the work of an informal working group of post secondary institutions within Alberta that has come together to examine, explore and identify needs and resources, and look for ways to integrate programs and services in the development of an Indigenous Language Instructors’ Certificate. The working group includes universities and First Nations colleges from throughout the province that were previously working in isolated efforts toward teaching Indigenous languages.

Recognizing that teaching individual and isolated language courses is not sufficient for language revitalization, and that resources were scarce, the working group came together to discover good practices in language teaching contexts that are based on Indigenous Knowledge systems.

Purpose

The information provided in this report is intended to serve as a catalyst for continuing positive change for community language revitalization and maintenance efforts and as a result promote and support the work of the Indigenous Language Instructors’ Certificate working group toward the establishment and continuation of long-term partnerships between universities and First Nations colleges.

The recognition and inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge has been identified by the working group as a necessary step in the development of an Indigenous Languages Instructors’ Certificate which will truly serve the needs of Indigenous communities, institutions, and Nations in their work toward the reclamation and revitalization of Indigenous Languages. This project sought to contribute to the current literature on the subject as well as to share the wisdom, experience and guidance of Indigenous Knowledge holders toward this goal.