History


Funding will be the critical element in protecting and teaching the language.

Strategic Plan

Elders Working Group

Central to renewal of the language is the committee of elders who are knowledgeable about the language and culture. This Elders Working Group (EWG) must guide, advise and support language initiatives. This representative body of language and culture experts is crucially important to all the language initiatives.

Immediate Action Items

  • Continue to record, archive and preserve oral language and other archival functions. Documentation: Future restoration of the language will rely on Ktunaxa facilities and archives. The continuing documentation of Ktunaxa is a critical responsibility. Their archives will help fill the void that is resulting from the continuing loss of knowledgeable elders. In the short term it is essential that this recording and archiving continue.
  • More language CD’s for all levels and other projects to make language and culture available.
  • Make “living Ktunaxa” more apparent in the communities: encourage Ktunaxa use by employees (greeting guests and answering the phone in Ktunaxa)
  • Include a language column in the Newsletter and focus as much on the USE of Ktunaxa as the recording of the language.
  • Develop a community by community and Nation language renewal plan.
  • Language Facilitator should compile and create new instructional materials and methods, redevelop old materials for use out in all communities.
  • Develop required curriculum for language classes for students, employees and community members.
  • Institute monitoring the use and growth of Ktunaxa use and mandate by Chief and Council that usage increases. Encourage all programs that facilitate all opportunities to hear and speak the language.
  • Develop digital and hard copy phrase books.
  • Ktunaxa signage on reserve(s) and in the broader community.

 

1 – 3 Years

  • Develop language video/audio tapes selected from the language archive to assist language learners by allowing the learners to hear the spoken language.
  • Create language curriculum and additional CD ROM projects for use in the schools.
  • Continue expanding the development of a talking or digital dictionary.
  • Develop a digital grammar book.
  • Seek funding for language staff.
  • Establish a teacher education program such as the Developmental Term Standard Certificate (DTSC) in conjunction with UBC, UVic or SFU.
  • Extend adult language education material in a progressive developmental level.
  • Re-organize a preschool program into an immersion (Nursery+K) and (1+2)
  • On-going instructional support and training for immersion teachers.
  • Consider measures to encourage the use of Ktunaxa in the schoolyard and gym.
  • Include restitution for language renewal in treaty talks.
  • Investigate resources and sources of support for additional programming and personnel.

 

Long Term Goals

  • Work with the Tribal Council to develop broadcasts on the Ktunaxa Nation Intranet. This can be video or audio/radio.
  • Distribute a community newspaper in Ktunaxa.
  • Meetings would be conducted in Ktunaxa.
  • Extend the immersion program through Gr. 4
  • Plan to recruit and support developing speakers to become language and culture teachers
  • Complete a sequence of language performance standards for K through grade 10
  • Use technology money to develop language games in Ktunaxa.
  • Treaty Youth Liaisons can organize rediscovery programs where young people have an opportunity to experience their language and culture.
  • Innovative curricula design and learning goals from 0-to 80 plus.
  • New, better and coordinated use of available curriculum materials.
  • Language teacher training.
  • Language instruction support, lesson planning and lesson aid development, for school and community-based language and cultural programming.
  • Ensure that school districts are monitored and given specific direction with language and culture programs.
  • Remove overlap in services between departments.
  • Encourage mandate by Chief and Council to monitor and increase the use of the language is completed.
  • Implementation of “true immersion”, into the classroom when available.
  • Proposal writing and fund raising.
  • Ensure that the language is heard by everyone.