Language Warriors

At the end of April this year, 10 students in the Masters of Indigenous Language Revitalization (MILR) successfully passed the oral defence of their projects to earn their Masters of Education degree.
 
The students began their journey in 2016, when the Office of First Nations and Métis Relations, at the University of Saskatchewan worked in partnership with the University of Victoria (UVIC) to deliver the MILR program at the English River First Nation Business Complex in Saskatoon. The MILR program at UVIC has been the only graduate program in Indigenous Language Revitalization in Canada. Students studied in their home communities, and travelled from Alberta, Northwest Territories, Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan and Saskatoon to attend intensive weeklong sessions through six terms to complete their program. Languages represented are Nahkawē, Nēhiyaw, Nēhithaw, Michif and Tłı̨chǫ.
 
Students were supported on their big day, by each other, their family members, academic support Charlotte Ross, and director of First Nations and Métis relations, Joan Greyeyes. Onowa McIvor and Trish Rosborough from University of Victoria fulfilled the roles alternately supervisor and committee member for the 10 students’ projects. Gail MacKay, from the U of S College of Education was the exam chair.