Two Moosonee school teachers share a passion for teaching Cree

Christine Kataquapit says Cree was the first language given to her by Mother Earth and she's here to teach it, revive it, and share it with the community of Moosonee.

"I'm fluent. I read and write," says Kataquapit. She's been teaching for 30 years because, as she says, when you have a passion for something you have to go on.

Kataquapit says the best part of her job is meeting students who want to be fluent in Cree. "But it has to come from the home too," she said. "Not just from the school, parents should get involved . . . and the community."

Kataquapit thinks the school board should encourage adult learners as well so parents can speak the language at home with their children.

Mary Jane Storey teaches Cree to students in the primary grades at Moosonee Public School.

Some of her favourite words to teach her students are Cree for "children" and "listen."

"I really enjoy seeing them when they speak the language," said Storey.

"Even if they want to go to the washroom or something and they ask me in English . . . I always say to them, 'I don't understand you' so they have to rely on their classmates or they have to remember," she chuckled.