Cree Literacy Network

To welcome and celebrate UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), nêhiyawak Language Experience is sharing its 2022 Immersion Language Camp Guide. By sharing their own process, tested for over 15 years, nLE is offering a blueprint to help support and encourage others who would like to create language camps of their own. Camp founder, Belinda Daniels who grew up at Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, writes:

The “How to” Language Guide will be helpful for many communities and language activists who want to develop language camps but don’t know where to start. There are 50 pages of instructions, step-by-step, to creating and making your own language camp. From looking at language through the gaze of land, to language methods, lesson planning ideas, teachers along with researchers put together this guide with nLE’s process and long-time experience. Its focus is on language revitalization techniques and tips for the Cree language. However, this guide can be used for any Indigenous language. nLE has been doing language camps for 17 years, along with classes and teaching online. This organization is sharing all kinds of information, from ceremony to day-to-day instruction, language tips, practical procedures, surveys along with models of trauma informed approaches and pictures. You don’t need to have it all figured out, you just need to get started. We are committed to the revitalization and reclamation of our Indigenous languages.

Download your own copy here:

(Pre-covid photo by Sweetmoon Photography provided by Belinda Daniels.)