At Joe A. Ross School in Opaskwayak Cree Nation, the sound of children singing the national anthem in Cree fills the halls each morning. The Cree immersion program at the school includes seven classrooms catering to students from nursery to Grade 6. Additionally, students in the English language program participate in a daily 30-minute Cree course.
Principal Karon McGillivary, raised with advice against speaking Cree, expressed astonishment at the existence of a school like hers. She emphasized the importance of hearing children speak the language again, describing it as a powerful experience.
The program, initiated two decades ago due to a decline in Cree speakers, now enrolls around 200 of the school’s 500 students. To support the program, an apprenticeship initiative has been introduced to attract new teachers, along with a land-based curriculum component.
McGillivary stressed that Cree represents more than just words—it embodies culture, land, and identity. She highlighted the significance of younger generations learning the language for the community’s future and the reconciliation process.
The ultimate goal is to establish a fully Cree-immersed school, although some parents remain hesitant to enroll their children in the program due to concerns about impacting their English proficiency. McGillivary noted a gradual decrease in this apprehension, indicated by a three percent increase in Cree program enrollment this year.
Cree is the predominant Indigenous language spoken in Manitoba, with over 13,000 speakers recorded in the recent Statistics Canada census. The revitalization and preservation of Indigenous languages were key recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
Students like Ronin Hall and Kiefer Pelly are enthusiastic about learning Cree, with Hall already conversing in Cree at home. Pelly, supported by his fluent grandparents, emphasized the importance of passing down the language to future generations.
The school recently celebrated The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, marked by Orange Shirt Day, to honor residential school survivors and victims. Linda Constant, a Cree immersion teacher, highlighted the value of incorporating Cree values into the curriculum to prepare students for success in the future. She emphasized the ongoing effort to preserve and strengthen the Cree language.