SUN T E P F I R S T P O S T-S ECO N D ARY I N S TI TU TION T O
O FFER M I C H I F 100
A MICHIF 100 LANGUAGE COURSE IS NOW BEING OFFERED TO SASKATCHEWAN URBAN NATIVE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM (SUNTEP)
REGINA STUDENTS. SUNTEP REGINA COORDINATOR JANICE THOMPSON SAYS, “WHAT MAKES OUR PROGRAM UNIQUE AND DISTINCT IS
THAT WE ARE THE FIRST POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION TO OFFER [THE MICHIF] LANGUAGE COURSE.”
Thompson says, “Offering the Michif
100 course continues to reaffirm
our commitment to Métis people
alongside our mission statement: to
promote the renewal and development
of Métis culture through research,
materials development, collection and
distribution of those materials and the
design, development and delivery of
Métis-specific educational programs
and services.” The introduction of the
new Michif course was celebrated at
the Student Success Celebration, held
March 7, 2017.
First year SUNTEP Regina student
Jenny Veilleux says she feels "fortunate
to be one of the first students in
Canada to take a Michif class, which
is the first one to be offered anywhere
ever. Michif is a dying language, with
few fluent speakers; it needs to be
saved so it can flourish once again. My
family was enfranchised in the 1950's,
which unfortunately means they
assimilated into the European culture.
ny
Gabriel Dumont Institute—SUNTEP,
in partnerships with the University
of Regina and the University of
Saskatchewan, has been offering
elementary teacher training for over
35 years and currently boasts 1206
graduates from Regina, Saskatoon, and
Prince Albert programs.
Ve i
e
Michif is the indigenous language
of many M é tis. However, “the Michif
language which was once common in
Métis communities is now considered
an endangered language as there are
fewer that 1000 people who speak it.”
(Louis Riel Institute)
ll e u
x , fi r s t- y e a r S U
s
NTEP
t ud
Ultimately, they lost most of the
languages that they were born to speak
during the process. My grandparents
spoke between 5-7Indigenous
languages and Michif was one. I only
grew up hearing phrases or words,
never being fully immersed in the
language. To be learning Michif now at
my age, as an adult, is exciting, but also
very difficult. Learning the language of
my people is very important to me as
it enhances more of what I'm learning
about my traditions and culture. This is
necessary for many people in Canada,
to prevent it from being completely
lost."
"To be learning Michif now at my
age, as an adult, is exciting, but
also very difficult. Learning the
language of my people is very
important to me as it enhances
what I'm learning about my
traditions and culture."
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