400 students learn about Indigenous languages, cultures in Saskatoon

About 400 students from the Saskatoon Tribal Council member nations andSaskatoon public schools spent the day learning about Indigenous cultures during a language festival.

This year marked the fourth annual Indigenous festival in Saskatoon, designed to help students build stronger ties and identities with their Cree, Dakota, Michif and Nakaw languages and culture.

The Honouring Our Youth: Love Your Language, Speak with Pride Indigenous language festival is a partnership between First Nations and Mtis Education, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and Saskatoon Public Schools.

Workshop sessions throughout the day covered a range of topics for students from Grades 1 to 5, including songs, jigging, sash weaving, teaching through stories and a global perspective on First Nations. The festival took place on Tuesday at E.D. Feehan Catholic High School in Saskatoon.

"I think it's a real honour and celebration for the kids," said Cornelia Laliberte, coordinator with First Nations and Mtis Education.

"I know that the Indigenous language programs offered in both public and Catholic school divisions started as a partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council, so it's a real honour for the three of our entities to get together to honour and celebrate the Indigenous languages that we offer in our schools."