Nêhiyawêtân Cree Bilingual Program

The Nêhiyawêtân Cree Bilingual program is taught at St. Frances School, a prekindergarten to Grade 8 school located at 2141 McPherson Avenue in the Queen Elizabeth neighbourhood.

The Cree bilingual program is currently offered in Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 4.

The program meets the developmental needs of children by encouraging participation, learning, observing, experiencing and interaction among the students. The main characteristic of the Nêhiyawêtân program is storytelling. This is how First Nations people interact with one another: through learning about the experiences of others.

The program also includes kêhtêyak (old ones/elders) who are the knowledge keepers of origin and history, which provides a foundation of values and beliefs from a First Nations perspective. From kêhtêyak the children learn the natural laws and the validity of learning to live with respect for oneself, for others and everything occupying Mother Earth. With traditional teachings, children come to embrace their identity and assume ownership of the language.

The goal of the program is to integrate nêhiyaw ways, origin, history and natural laws into a faith-based Catholic education program. The children will reawaken to the depth of their identity and come to understand exactly who they are with pride and integrity.

This is a full-day, every day program, available to children across the city, with transportation provided at no extra cost to parents. Children are taught by a professional teacher who is fluent in the "Y" Cree dialect.

For more information please contact St. Frances School at 659-7310.