nisohkamâtotân - work together for mutal benefit​

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Connie and Tanya met in 1989, at the University of Alberta, both enrolled in a introductory Cree class.  Connie helped Tanya with pronunciation and in return, Tanya helped Connie with linguistic terminology.   Over the years, Connie and Tanya both worked towards creating or delivering Cree language programs in their respective communities; each from very different perspectives. Connie comes from the perspective of a Cree woman whose first language is Cree and Tanya, a non-Indigenous second language learner who has achieved basic fluency in the language.

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Connie comes with a wealth of experience, initially as a Cree teacher in the provincial system, then for a private charter school and for band schools at Bigstone Cree Nation and Alexander Cree Nation. She was seconded to Alberta Education to assist in the development of provincial curriculum for the high school Cree program. She has conducted teacher in-servicing for Cree language for over 25 years, worked in Cree language curriculum development and various administrative and leadership capacities on and off-reserve. Connie has undergrad degrees from the University of Alberta in Indigenous Studies and Education and completed a master’s degree in Indigenous Languages at University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills.

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Tanya’s experience is focused on learning Cree in the community setting. She has worked as a Cree teacher for both provincial and reserve schools. She dedicated 2 years to studying Cree in the First Nation communities of Saddle Lake and Goodfish Lake, where she studied using the Master-Apprentice Method, among other language learning techniques like good old-fashioned visiting. Tanya has organized and facilitated beginner Cree language classes at the grassroots or community level. For several years, she was invited to speak about learning Cree at regional conferences such as University of Saskatchewan’s Think Indigenous Conference. Tanya has an undergrad degree in Criminology from the University of Alberta, a Diploma in Cree language from University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills and a Master’s degree in Education, with a focus on adult learning from the University of Saskatchewan. Tanya is a co-author of a book which documented an anti-racist project called, Restoring the History of St. Paul des Métis: Understanding Métis Perspectives.