New Kehewin language program opens to help preserve Plains Cree language

A new First Nations immersive language program inspired is looking to help preserve Plains Cree, a dialect of the Cree language.

The program, called a "language nest," is a non-classroom space for fluent Plains Cree speaking elders and knowledge keepers from the local community to interact with and help children learn the language in their formative years.

The grand opening of the Kakewetotamak Kinehiyawinaw Language Nest recently took place on Dec. 18 in the Kehewin Cree Nation, located 235 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. The language nest's name translate to "bringing our language home." 

Melissa Paul, the Cree language revitalization developer for the new language nest, said that revitalization of the Cree language is essential to uphold the identity and culture of the Kehewin community.

"Without language, we won't have culture. So, it's very important to keep that up and maintain it, and start it while they're young," Paul said.

"When you come into the language nest, you're going to leave the English language outside those doors and you are going to — to the best of your ability — speak your language in the language nest. So, the only language that's going to be spoken is Cree."

Elissa Gadwa, coordinator for the nest, said the inspiration for the new program came from the Maori people, who started the first language nests.

"We got to go over [to New Zealand] and meet the people who started the language nests 30 years ago," Gadwa said. "We asked if we could bring it back to our nation, to Kehewin, so that we can create a language nest here."

Gadwa said Cree language and cultural classes will also be held in the evening for Kehewin adults

Janine Chesworth, a speech pathologist who is the researcher for Kehenwin's Language Revitalization Project, said that language nests started as a grassroots movement by Maori families to teach young children their language in an immersive setting similar to a cooperative daycare.

"Children learn language best right at very early ages, and if you can get that learning going in the early years it actually shapes their brains and their outlook," Chesworth said.

"If you want children to have an Indigenous worldview and outlook, it's really helpful if they can be immersed in the language from birth."

But Chesworth says the language nest is meant to be different from an immersion school program.

"The difference is it's meant to be part of a bigger movement that is engaging with the community and creating a language community. So it is not just an immersion program. It's an immersive program that is part of a community movement."