Pearl Lorentzen

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Northland School Division has schools across Northern Alberta in communities with a majority Indigenous population. In the Cree and Métis communities, the schools have a Woodland Cree language program.
The division has partnered with the University of Alberta to develop Cree language resources in Wabasca using the local dialect. When completed, these will be available for use across the division and by U of A.

In early June, Northland and U of A will hold a pipe ceremony to start the one-year pilot project.

The pipe ceremony is to start the program in a good way, says Scott Meunier, deputy-superintendent. After this, Northland is working on a public launch, which may include a community event.

The pilot will be done in Wabasca because Northland has three schools in this community: St. Theresa (K to 6), Mistassiniy (7 to 12), and Career Pathways (outreach for 9 to 12).

Wabasca is made up of an M.D. of Opportunity hamlet and several Bigstone Cree Nation reserves.

Northland has schools in two other Bigstone communities – Calling Lake and Chipewyan Lake. These communities have slightly different dialects.

All but one of the other Northland schools have a Woodland Cree language program. The exception is Father R. Perin School, in Janvier. It has a majority Dene population, so teaches Dene. The schools on Métis settlements teach Michif and Cree.

If the first year goes well, said Cal Johnson, Northland superintendent, at the May 24 Northland board of trustees meeting, next year a follow-up pilot will likely be done in Janvier.